>>>>>Firefighters watch as home burns to the ground. Has the American welfare sunk so low?
>>>>>http://www.wpsdlocal6.com/news/local/Firefighters-watch-as-home-burns-to-the-ground-104052668.html
>>>>
>>>>Interestingly that's how fire services originated in England - people subscribed to a fire service and only had their home extinguished if they were thus insured.
>>>
>>>That's how they started here, too. Benjamin Franklin created the first such fire company on this continent in Philadelphia.
>>>
>>>Presumably, eventually, people realized that it was better for everyone to have fire service, since one home burning was likely to have an impact on others.
>>>
>>>Tamar
>>
>>2nd, not 1st, correct:
>>
>>On January 27, 1678 the first fire engine company went into service with its captain (foreman) Thomas Atkins.[1] In 1736 Benjamin Franklin established the Union Fire Company in Philadelphia.[1]
>>
>>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_firefighting#United_States
>>
>>
>>and:
>>
>>A large fire in Boston in 1679 led to the organization of the first paid fire department in America. The city imported a fire engine from England and employed a chief and twelve firefighters. The first volunteer Fire Company was formed in Philadelphia, PA in 1736. Benjamin Franklin served as America’s First volunteer Fire Chief.
>>
>>http://durham.nh.us/departments/fire_dept/trivia.html
>>
>>maybe you meant the first volunteer fire department with a chief?
>>
>>First Volunteer Fire Company in America (1736)
>>In 1736 in Philadelphia, PA, Benjamin Franklin formed the first volunteer fire company, called the Union Fire Company. Franklin served on it as America's first volunteer fire chief.
>>
>>First Paid Fire Department in America (1678)
>>A large fire in Boston in 1679, led to the organization of the first paid fire department in North America, if not the world. Boston selectman imported a fire engine from England and employed a fire chief, Thomas Atkins, and 12 fire fighters to operate it.
>>
>>http://www.concordma.gov/pages/concordma_fire/faqs
>>
>>http://www.cityofboston.gov/fire/about/history.asp
>
>Thanks for the corrections. Here in Philly, we learn about all the things that Ben did first, and apparently, I was misinformed that his was the first fire company in the US. In fact, searching, I see that this misinformation is definitely out there (for example, at http://library.thinkquest.org/22254/inventions.htm).
>
>This site (http://www.ushistory.org/franklin/philadelphia/fire.htm), though, explains that is was Boston's arrangement that inspired him.
>
>Tamar
>
>Tamar

The reason that stuck in my mind (and I looked it up to verify that I was recalling it correctly) is because my daughter had to do a report on it in school. It's funny how some information sticks with you and other information just disappears into the nether regions.... :o)