RULES AND REGULATIONS

FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF THE

BALTIMORE CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT

DECEMBER 1858



All the companies composing the department shall be furnished with a copy of the ordinance creating the department, and the rules and regulations of the Board of Fire Commissioners, and it shall be the duty of the officers, and members to conform to all duties herein required, and all orders of the Chief Engineer. Each company shall be designated by number.


CHIEF ENGINEER.

The Chief Engineer shall perform all such duties as are prescribed in the ordinance creating this department, entitled “An Ordinance to establish a paid Fire Department for the City of Baltimore.”


ASSISTANT ENGINEER.

It shall be the duty of each Assistant Engineer to visit, at least once a day, the several engine, and truck houses in the district for which he was appointed, see whether any repairs, &c., are necessary, and daily report the result of his examination to the Chief Engineer. He shall see that the houses, machinery, and horses are in good order, and proper discipline kept. It shall be the duty of said Assistant Engineers, whenever a fire shall occur in the city, to repair immediately to the place of such fire, and carry with them a suitable badge of their office, and report to the Chief Engineer, and take proper measures, under his direction, that the several engines, and other apparatus shall be arranged in the most advantageous situations, and only used for the effectual extinguishment of fires, and to call for assistance, if need be, from all persons present, as well as members of the department. It shall also be their duty to cause order to be preserved in going to, working at, or returning from fires, and at all other times when companies attached to the department are on duty. In case of the absence of the Chief Engineer, the Assistant Engineer in whose district the fire may occur, shall exercise the duties of this office with full power, but in the absence of the Chief, and Assistants, the Foreman of the company in whose district the fire may be, shall have command until the arrival of the Chief, or Assistant, and for which purpose the city shall be divided into as many districts as there are companies. They shall also perform such other duties as the Board may from time to time prescribe.


FOREMEN.

It shall be the duty of the Foremen to see that the several engines, apparatus, and horses committed to their care, and the several buildings in which the same are deposited, and all things in, and belonging to the same, are kept neat, and clean, and in order for immediate use. It shall also be their duty to preserve order, and discipline in their respective companies, especially whilst going to, in service at, or returning from fires, and require, and enforce a strict compliance with the city ordinance, and the rules, and regulations of the Board of Control. They shall also keep, or cause to be kept, fair, and exact rolls, specifying the age, time of admission, and discharge of each member, and accounts of all the city property entrusted to the care of the several members, and of all absence, and tardiness of the same, in a book provided for that purpose by the city, which roll, or record books are always to be subject to the order of the Board of Control. They shall also make, or cause to be made, to the Chief Engineer, true, and accurate returns of all the members, with their ages, residence, and occupation, also the condition of the apparatus, and other property entrusted to their care, once a month, or oftener if called upon so to do. The Foremen, or commanding officer of each company, shall remain with the company or apparatus, of which he has charge, preserve order, and direct the operations of the same, and all members of the several companies, except when otherwise engaged on special duty, shall remain at or about the apparatus, to which they are attached.


ENGINEMEN.

It shall be the duty of the Enginemen of each company, to be at all times present at the engine house, except when absent therefrom on duty, he shall give his entire time and attention to his company, and shall have his engine ready for service at all times. He shall accompany his engine to all fires, or alarms, and discharge the duties appertaining to his position, as directed by the Foreman of his company, or his superior officer, and he shall be required to do all repairing, as prescribed by the ordinance creating this department.


HOSTLERS.

The Hostlers shall have charge, and care of the horses of their respective companies while at the engine, or truck house, going to a fire, whilst there, or returning to the house, and shall have them at all times ready for immediate service. They shall report to, and otherwise execute the directions of the Foreman, and shall be on duty at the engine, or truck house, at all times, except during fires, and whilst practicing horses, shall not go farther from the house than directed by the Foreman.


FIREMEN.

Each Fireman shall be on duty at his respective engine house at all times, except during fires, and shall discharge all the duties appertaining to his position during the time the apparatus is in service. It shall also be his duty to keep his engine house, hose carriage, and hose in proper, and cleanly condition, and shall be subject in all things to the direction of the Foreman. He shall also drive the hose carriage going to and returning from a fire.


EXTRA MEN.

It shall be the duty of each extra men, immediately upon an alarm of fire, to repair to the locality of said fire, report himself to the Foreman of his company, and perform such duties as may be required of him by his superior officers.


Persons to be eligible to membership in the department, must be over the age of 21 years, and residents of the City of Baltimore.

All persons connected with the department shall be required to attend all fires, or alarms of fires, promptly, and regularly, or be subject to dismissal.

No spirituous or malt liquors shall be allowed in any engine, or other house belonging to the department, or at any fire, or alarm of fire, and any member seen intoxicated about any engine house, or other house used by the department, at any fire, or alarm of fire, shall be subject to dismissal.

Any officer, or member of the department who shall willfully neglect, or refuse to perform his duty, or shall be guilty of disobedience to his superior officer, or officers, shall for such offence be suspended from the department, and any officer, or member who shall offend against any ordinance of the city relating to the fire department, the same to be determined by the Board of Control, shall in addition to the liability of suspension by the Chief Engineer, be also liable to a penalty of not less than five, nor more than ten dollars, the same to be deducted from the monthly pay of the person so offending.

The uniform of the Chief, and Assistant Engineers, shall consist of a white fire cap, having the name of their respective offices on the front, drab, or other light colored coat, and pants. Each Foreman shall wear a white fire cap, with black front, with the name of his office, and the number of the company to which he is attached thereon, and black coat and pants. All other members of the department shall wear black coats, and pants, and black fire caps, having the number of their respective companies on the front. The Enginemen, Hostlers, and Firemen to have the name of their respective offices above the number of their companies. Each member of the department shall also wear a grey flannel shirt.

Each officer, and member of the department shall be furnished by the Board of Commissioners with a badge, properly numbered, and they shall appear at all fires or alarms of fires with their uniform, or badge.

In case of sickness, or absence from the city of any officer, or member of the Fire Department, his place may be filled by such person as he may select, provided that said person be approved by the Board of Commissioners, and Chief Engineer, and the party thus furnishing a substitute shall be responsible for his conduct.

Each officer, and member of the department shall sign the following agreement, in a book to be provided for that purpose by the Board of Control: The undersigned having been appointed a member of the Baltimore City Fire Department, hereby agree to abide by all the ordinances of the Mayor and City Council, and the rules and regulations of the Board of Control of the Fire Department relating thereto.

Each officer, and member of the department on signing the rules, and regulations of the City Fire Department, shall be furnished with a certificate of membership, signed by the President, and Clerk of the Board of Control.

No company shall be permitted to leave the city with their apparatus under any consideration whatever, unless permission be granted by the Board.

Absence from a fire, or alarm of fire without good, and sufficient cause, the same to be determined by the Board of Commissioners, shall subject the party absenting himself to the following fines:

For an Assistant Engineer, or Engineman,…$3.00
Hostler or Fireman,...$2.00
Foreman,...$1.50
Extra Men,...$1.00
The same to be deducted from their monthly pay.


Approved, December 10, 1858


Board of Fire Commissioners

JOHN CUSHING, President
John T. Morris
William H. Quincy
William H. Stran
John W. Loane

CHARLES T. HOLLOWAY, Chief Engineer

DANIEL SUPER, Clerk


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