Notes - Montreal Fire Department 1898
Service des Incendies de Montreal

The information for the Montreal Fire Department - 1898 comes from various sources listed in the bibliography. I believe the information to be accurate, however, the information is presented as is. Please take into consideration that there is conflicting information, possible errors of interpretation, legibilty problems, etc., so accuracy cannot be guaranteed. For example if a station lists an engineer I assumed there would be a steam engine at that location. There are 8 stations lists as having engineers, 9 steamers in the equipment list, (but 2 are listed as "cast-offs" - what is a cast off - there is a possibility of 2 older steamers not being serviceable), and 9 engineers are on staff. In the chief's report there is mention of a new repair shop at station 6 (but no mention of this activity at the station or any manpower) while elsewhere in the same report there is a workshop mentioned at station 13 with manpower listed for specific shop duties. I don't know if there were 2 shops or one shop.

The addresses are from 1898 and do not correspond to the current street numbering system.

Corrections and other information are welcome.

IN MEMORIAM

Chas. McAllister,
Foreman Salvage Wagon, No. 4 Station,
Died April 7, 1898
R.I.P.


Chas. McAllister apparently died of a heart attack while recovering at home from a "snapped ankle" which occurred on landing after sliding down the pole while responding to an alarm at box 184. This was a false alarm. The accident occurred some six weeks earlier and it was expected that Foreman McAllister would be returning to duty in the near future, possibly the following week.

STAFFING

1 Chief4 Assistant Chiefs
1 Supply Officer1 Superintendant of Horses
1 Secretary2 Physicians (Not Fire Department Staff)
18 Captains9 Engineers
8 Foremen of Ladders3 Foremen of Salvage
3 Foremen of Chemicals1 Foreman for the Water Tower
1 Hose and Harness Repairman
105 First Class Firemen35 2nd Class Firemen

EQUIPMENT

21 Winter Hosereels (2 doubles)21 Summer Hosereels (2 doubles)
3 Spare Winter Hosereels3 Spare Summer Hosereels
4 Extension Ladder Trucks6 Hook and Ladder Trucks
9 Steam Fire Engines (2 "Cast-off")3 Chemical Wagons - 1 Reserve
1 Combined Ladder and Salvage Truck1 Coal Wagon
1 Water Tower101 Horses in Service
About 31,500 Feet of Hose

OTHER STATISTICS

Calls Answered: 803598 from Electric Signal - (Telegraph)
205 from Phone and Other
563 were actual fires
240 required no action by firemen - no damage
Of the 240 - 84 were false alarms (up from 62 in 1897)
Loss of Life:No Human Loss of Life, 7 Horses Burned to Death
Department Loss of Life:1 Fireman died during the year
4 Horses Killed in the Line of Duty

OTHER NOTES

The "Champion" Fire Tower was "smashed to bits" late in the year at a Victoria Square fire.
A new high capacity "Lafrance" Fire Engine was acquired and put into service early in the year.
A new No. 7 Fire Station will be ready for occupation in 1899.

COMMENTS

There would soon be a period of rapid growth in the fire department. Growth of the city and in turn the fire department would quicken, as more towns would be annexed to the City of Montreal in rapid succession in the coming years. Many of the older fire stations would be replaced with newer buildings, and motorized apparatus would start being put into service after 1910.

There is a short silent film showing the fire department of this era, "Montreal Fire Department on Runners" (1901) during a "response" (parade for the cameraman) during the winter period with the apparatus on runners (ie. winter sleighs). This film may still be available on a special video collection, "Centennary Snapshots," which also includes a short clip of The Great Toronto Fire of 1904, from the National Archives Boutique.

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Last Update/Derniere Mise a jour: 03August1998
Copyright © 1998 Craig Brander.