To prepare for October's 50th anniversary issue of Fire Chief magazine, we're doing quite a bit of research from early issues. The original publisher, Thomas Higgins, was a volunteer firefighter. While he knew of other publications in the firefighting field, Higgins created his magazine because there was “no national monthly journal devoted exclusively to the interests of volunteer firemen.” He originally planned to call the magazine Volunteer Fireman, but the Firemen's Association of the State of New York already had claimed that title, so Higgins called the publication The Volunteer Firefighter. In 1967, the magazine was renamed Fire Chief to include volunteer and career fire chiefs.

After World War II, the exodus to suburbia increased the demand for firefighting services and volunteer fire departments. In the mid-1950s it was estimated there were 480,000 firefighters across the country. Many of these early suburban and rural fire departments were established as social clubs. Raising money for fire trucks and equipment really brought out the creativity in folks, including one fire department that owned and operated a gas station.

Money problems and the fire service — the fire service certainly does have a history of being innovative and creative in raising funds to support its life-saving efforts.

In the '20s, for example, a group of young, civic-minded citizens in Florida established Sebring Firemen Inc. They bought a grove and transformed it into a combination baseball park and football field called Firemen's Field. For 15 years the field was the spring training center of the Newark Bears, then the number-one farm club of the New York Yankees. All monies went into the fire department treasury. Building on their success, the volunteers started a small fair and bought and developed a 20-acre fairground and three buildings totaling more than 30,000 square feet. The most spectacular project was their annual sports car race, the Florida International Grand Prix of Endurance.

Farther north, the Federalsburg (Md.) Volunteer Fire Department had more than 100 members, “modern fire equipment” and one ambulance. But the members were concerned that the ambulance service consistently showed a monthly deficit of about $50, despite an annual $800 grant.

After an exhaustive study, the fire company created an Ambulance Membership Plan with $5 annual subscriptions. Each subscriber's household was entitled to receive ambulance service to any point within 50 miles of Federalsburg for one year. The service was good for unlimited trips during the year, provided that the ambulance was requested by a “practicing physician or a member of the state police.” The fire company was quick to stress they were not “begging for money; … rather it is an ambulance insurance plan so inexpensive that no one can really afford to be without it.”

South Zanesville (Ohio) Volunteer firefighters raised funds to build an addition to their municipal building by distributing coin cards to local residents. The cards had slots for 12 quarters, and residents were asked to insert “two bits” a week. The volunteers would pick up the cards at the end of the drive.

In yet another early article, the Tewksbury (Mass.) Fire Department had a group of 30 women — the Tewksbury Lassies — skilled in firefighting and civil defense. The unit was trained to be available in wartime when manpower would be diverted elsewhere. The women eventually bought their own truck, equipped it and turned it over to the town. The women went on to raise money for hose, coats, boots, and hand- and floodlights. (By the way, these old books show more women involved in firefighting than we traditionally believe.)

Unfortunately, too many fire departments today still have inadequate protective clothing, equipment and training to perform the wide range of responsibilities facing them each day. In previous editorials I've warned about becoming dependent on the federal government. Once again the 2007 FIRE Grant dollars dangle overhead. Government money can be like drugs: Used effectively by those in need, it can heal or cure; in the other hands, there can be abuse and addiction.

Most fire departments need every dollar they can get their hands on, and based on these stories, they have a history of working for what they want.