CHARLOTTETOWN’S '

FIRE DEPARTMENT

1855 —1955

From its earliest moments up to approximately 1856, Charlottetown was a garrison or fortified city, having as defenders of its bastions, troops of the British Impe1ial Army It was to the ese regiments that the town looked for protection against the “Bed Destroyer”.

The records of early Charlottetown state that Fire Eng ine No 1, “The Prince Edward”, which was imported fro om England bV Governor Smith in 1818, was turned over to the Department on its establishment in December of 1855. Also released to the newly formed Fire Department in the same year was Fire Engine No.2 ,which was imported from Scot— land by David McGill 1n 18/13.g These engines were operated by hand, the wate rbeing supplied to their tanks by bucket briggades formed by the citizens.

It was not until 1866 that the first steam engine. drawn by a pair of horses, and cap able of draughting water and discharging it on a fire, was supplied to thep Department The work of the hand pumping engines was augmented to a Questionable degree by bucket brigades whose hurriedly thrown water seldom reached its mark

Prior to the incorporation of the City in 1855 there existed a group of citizens knows as “Fire Wardens”. Each of these gentlemen with his red and gilt staff, the symbol of his authority, could order on— —lookers into bucket brigades at fires and carry out other authoritative tasks. It is in- teresting to note that in 1855 the first wardens numbered among their r“embers such men as the Hon. Edward Whelan, George Coles, T. Heath Haviland, as well as several other later prominent in Island HistorV. This group functioned as part of the Town Council and became the first fire committee under the City of Charlottetown in 1855.

In 1856, following the incorporation of the City, by- laws were pass— ed instituting a volunteer fire department which has served Charlottetown to the present dav. Among the first Fire Chiefs were Henry Palmer Beniamin Davis, Silas Bernard, William Heard, Thomas Alley and Donald MacKinnon.

During Chief Alley’ 3 term the City was Visited by what is known as “The Great gFire of 1866”. This fire the worst in the history of Char- lottetown, destroyed over four city blocks 1n ward one. Sta1ting from where the Cavendish Apartments now stand, it spread unchecked. de— stroying all in its path, in a north- easterly direction, until it reached the stone Bishop’s Place and vacant ground on Great George Street.

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