Jesse James was still robbing trains and running a gang. Billy the Kid was still on the loose in New Mexico. The year was 1877, 12 years after the Civil War. America was still healing, expanding westward and becoming the world’s focal point for innovation, creativity, experimentation, and industry. Along with all the amazing technological advances of the day came a growing awareness of the need to protect and defend this emerging culture’s treasures, prosperity, and people from the ravages of fire. Organized fire protection was not a new idea, but its value and importance were now clearly evident and widely supported in virtually every community. The models of protection varied considerably as a tribute to the American fundamental understanding that the government and its services functioned best when directed and controlled locally.
To support this flourishing fire industry with its highly motivated and passionate practitioners, The National Fireman’s Journal was established on November 17, 1877. And so was born a biweekly journal “Devoted to the Interests of Firemen of the Nation.”
It should be noted that during these times, firefighters were almost exclusively men, and so the title. Its use of the term “interests” also was not casually chosen. What was of interest to the publishers and editors of this journal was as it is today but a reflection, a sounding board for all firefighters on the issues and concerns they are facing in their endeavors to complete the mission they have accepted successfully and efficiently. In their brilliance, these amazing gentlemen, P. Y. Everett and Clifford Thompson, avoided the all-too-common trap of “hotel journalism” where an assumed “elite few” contribute to the content exclusively. On these hollowed pages since 1877 have been literally thousands upon thousands of voices—some repeatedly, some only once—all contributing to the greatest collection of accumulated fire history and evaluated experience, insight, and institutional knowledge.
There is no other repository of history and knowledge in the fire service that comes close. As a matter of fact, for more than 100 years, The National Fireman’s Journal would practically stand alone in its efforts to support and promote the interests of firefighters of America. The content for the next 140 years would strive relentlessly to be as diverse as the interests of all those similarly devoted to this industry and dedicated to the art and science of fire protection, suppression, and prevention. The intent was anything but casual, anything but trite. From its inception, its standard has been comprehensive, in depth, and complete—understanding that the information within these pages would influence decisions in the most dire of situations where lives hang in the balance and where the most noble men and women in the world willingly place themselves in mortal danger in the performance of their duties.
Our forbearers were wise, and even then agendas and ideologies were prevalent. They, however, were humble and aware of the fact that there was much they did not know and much to be learned from others. They wrote the following:
“In these days, when it is the habit to proclaim all newspapers as ‘organs’ of this or that political party or special business interest, we presume the Journal will be called the Fireman’s ‘organ.’ If by that it is meant that it will watch over the interests of the Firemen in all sections of the country, and endeavor to keep them all informed of whatever occurs that is likely to be of interest or advantage to them, then we shall cheerfully consent to be termed an ‘organ.’ But if it shall be intended to convey the idea that the Journal is the tool of any clique or ring, for the promulgation of any particular ideas, or for the advancement of the special aims of any person or set of persons, then we most indignantly repudiate the term, for the Journal will never be an ‘organ’ in any such objectionable sense.”
As the current caretakers, we readily admit our weaknesses, our imperfections, and limitations of our knowledge, but we are heartened to be reminded monthly of our ignorance by the insight and wisdom of Fire Engineering’s authors and contributors.
We will continue as editors and advisory board members to strive to avoid the trap of being dogmatic while remaining skeptical of our own opinions. We will continue to encourage passionate and respectful debate and exchange of ideas on the various topics of interest we all care so deeply about. We will strive relentlessly to be an “organ” for the wise, introspective firefighters who wish to share. We will guard ourselves against the assertive idiot who can so often by intimidation and volume demand allegiance to a single ideology.
It is our deepest and fondest hope that 140 years from now other editors, other advisors, who will occupy these positions will continue to recognize that the duties which the firefighters are called to discharge are now and will be the gravest and most important that are accepted by any citizen. That now, as 140 years ago and 140 years hence, will call for a high degree of skill, intelligence, courage, fortitude, perseverance, and endurance to be found only among the highest types of persons of character.
And although Jesse James and Billy the Kid, through their notorious and criminal lives, became famous, firefighters shun the spotlight, prefer to be the silent heroes, and would rather credit the entire fire service community. It is this amazing quality of character that separates the firefighter from all others. It is this organ’s distinct honor to write about these bright examples of so noble a character and to provide their stories for this generation and future generations to emulate.
Checky, Marcus, and Albuquerque
In the Highest Traditions of the Fire Service
Yogi, Edison, Topsy, and Tesla
Fire Engineering Archives
