The Milwaukee Fire Department is celebrating a significant milestone this year, commemorating 150 years of unwavering service to their community. In an era where social media serves as a bridging narrative, the department has taken to Facebook to share snippets of its storied past, preserving the valor and the vitality of its service members across a century and a half. According to the Milwaukee Fire Department recent post on their Facebook page, Milwaukee Fire Department will use this anniversary year to delve into archives, celebrating their past with historical anecdotes that have shaped their existence.
A look back at May 19 highlights important moments in fire department history. In 1913, a boiler explosion at the John Schroeder Lumber Company led to a second alarm, showing how ready firefighters always are. In 1936, records showed the department’s focus on fitness, with a baseball team from 1889 and handball courts that helped keep firefighters—later including women—active, as reported by the Milwaukee Fire Department.
More recent history is highlighted as well, with a 3rd alarm fire on May 19, 1995, that engulfed a vacant commercial building at 3901-03 W. North Avenue. The adage 'History repeats itself' manifested when the firefighters were called back for a rekindle, leading to a second alarm, as per the Milwaukee Fire Department.
The Milwaukee Fire Department has expressed its gratitude to the Milwaukee Fire Historical Society & Fire Museum for the images and detailed accounts providing a vivid chain linking the department's legacy with the present. Keeping an eye on the department's Facebook page is recommended for those interested in following more of the Milwaukee Fire Department's history as it unfolds throughout the year, offering up daily doses of inspiration and heritage.
