Author name: delawareohiogenealogy

The Delaware Fire Chiefs through the years are listed.

In 1834 when the Delaware Fire Department was first organized, all personnel were volunteers or “Minute Men,” as they were referred to, until approximately 1870 when full-time drivers for the various pieces of apparatus were hired.

The use of horses to transport fire equipment to the fire scene began in 1870-74 and continued until 1924 when the last horse drawn ladder-chemical unit was taken out of service.

Early training consisted of a 10-hour Red Cross first aid course and the only equipment was a portable E. & I. resuscitator.

Efforts were made in the early days of the Village of Delaware to regulate hazards that might cause fire. In 1951, the first formal Fire Prevention Code was passed.

The department hired full-time paid drivers with the change to horse drawn apparatus in 1874. The paid members were supplemented with 10-20 volunteers called Minute Men.