Cincinnati Fire History

The Cincinnati Fire Department's journey to distinction as the nation's first professional fire department began in the early 1800s, soon after Losantiville (later renamed Cincinnati) was founded. The department grew steadily from bucket brigade to volunteer corps; in 1853, an ordinance passed by Cincinnati City Council established the nation's first organized, paid fire department. Cincinnati provided the pattern for fire departments across the United States for the next 50 years and was the first to use successful horse-drawn steam engines to fight fires. The city of Cincinnati was home to the Ahrens-Fox manufacturing company, one of the most famous names in firefighting apparatus in the 1900s, placing the department on the cutting edge. Today the Cincinnati Fire Department continues its tradition as one of the premier urban firefighting systems. For more than 150 years, members have served their city and beyond.