This year, the Milwaukee Fire Department is proudly celebrating 150 years of service to the community. On social media, they’ve highlighted key events going back to the late 1800s, showing how the department has grown and remained a vital part of keeping Milwaukee safe, according to the Milwaukee Fire Department.
Just yesterday, the Milwaukee Fire Department's Facebook page featured a post detailing notable fires on August 17th throughout its 150 years, including an 1889 blaze that engulfed the Hecht & Zummach oil and paint warehouse. This look back isn't just about the fires that were tamed or the buildings that were saved; it's about celebrating a longstanding history of bravery and continuous improvement in the art of firefighting. They thanked, the Milwaukee Fire Historical Society & Fire Museum, for supplying this vital image and list of historic moments invaluable for this commemorative series.
We're reminded of the 1916 fire at the Carl Miller Lumber Co. and how subsequent industry advancements and city changes were-in part- reactions to these very flames that once challenged the Milwaukee Fire Department. As August 17, 1943, saw a second alarm at Cream City Roofing on S. Muskgo Avenue, the Milwaukee Fire Department underscores the evolution of its response over the years, with a legacy built, quite literally, from the ashes of its past.
In a recent post, the Milwaukee Fire Department looked back at a major fire from 1987 on N. 33rd Street that spread through a home and nearby buildings. Through these memories and stories, we see not just a fire department, but an important part of Milwaukee’s history.
