Fire Law Blog Fire Service and Public Safety Legal Issues Blog by Curt Varone
Change is a funny thing. We often hear people self-righteously calling for change they believe is needed. Today, much of the change in the fire service is focused on firefighter safety, safe staffing levels, adequate equipment and PPE, training, and communications. Its hard to imagine that these present day concerns will at some point give way to new concerns and the need for new changes. Its the cycle of life!
I came across this archived article from June 22, 1865, published in the New York Times that talked about the need for change in the fire service in New York City. It seems that a new law had been enacted creating the Metropolitan Fire Commission. The law had been challenged by those seeking to retain the volunteer fire companies that had historically provided service to the City. The trial court ruled in favor of the volunteers, but the Court of Appeals reversed, upholding the new law, and paving the way for what we now know as FDNY.
