Did you know that the Raleigh Fire Department is both more than 110 years old and also over 170 years old? That's because there have been two iterations of RFD. The current organization was created in 1912, when a full-time, fully paid (career) fire department was created. Sherwood Brockwell was hired as a first Chief of the department. He led the department until 1914, when he was hired as the first state fire marshal. He held that position until his death in 1953.
Brockwell was a former member of the Rescue Company, one of several that served Raleigh for decades. They were part of a unified volunteer RFD that was created in 1852. The city's first formal fire department was organized after a devastating fire on Dec. 19, 1851. The conflagration destroyed more than 17 structures on Fayetteville, Hargett, and Wilmington streets.
Following that fire, city officials ordered several changes including an immediate reorganization of the fire service, the appointment of the first fire chief, construction of the first engine house, and construction of four fire cisterns beneath Fayetteville Street.
New volunteer companies were also organized that year, including the first hook-and-ladder company. And two new hand-powered fire engines were delivered the following year.
Volunteer fire companies protected the City until March 1913, when they were declared out of commission.
Learn more about Raleigh fire history at the Raleigh Fire Museum.
(Editor’s Note: This information and photo are provided by RFD historian Mike Legeros)