Pre Independence
The origins of the Fire Service in Bombay can be traced back to 1477 when the locals were allotted Rs. 4 per day for handling different carts and horse chariots which were used to extinguish fire. In 1855, the Bombay Fire brigade started as a part-time function of the Police and a regular fire service with horse drawn fire engines came into being in Bombay under control of the Commissioner of Police. In 1864, a commission was appointed to report the organisation of fire service and a Police officer was sent to England to qualify himself as Captain of the New sterm Fire Brigade. Bombay Fire Brigade was placed jointly under the Government and the Municipality in 1865. On 1 April 1887., the fire protection subject had passed on the Municipality. In 1888 Bombay Municipal Corporation Act was enacted and protection of life and properties from fire become the obligatory duty of the Corporation. W.Nicholls of the London Fire Brigade was appointed Chief Officer of Bombay Fire Brigade in 1890 and the management passed into hands of a professional fire fighting officer. In 1907, the first petrol driven motor fire engine was imported and commissioned in Bombay fire brigade. W.J.Scllu of Bombay Fire Brigade joined Bombay Salvage Corps, Which was formed on 1 May 1907 with 37 insurance Companies. one of the prime objective of the Corps apart from salvage operation, was to minimise chance of fire. Street Fire Alarm System was first introduced in 1913. The Brigade was motorised by replacing the horse drawn steam engine in 1920 and the Bombay fire brigade started ambulance service consisting of six ambulances donated by Bai Jerbal Wadia and Sir Mangaldas Mehta.
On 14 April 1944 there was a huge explosion in Mumbai's (then Bombay) dock yard when the freighter SS Fort Stikine, carrying a mixed cargo of cotton bales, gold, and ammunition (including around 1,400 tons of explosives), caught fire and was destroyed in two giant blasts, scattering debris, sinking surrounding ships and setting fire to the surrounding area, killing around 800 people. The Bombay Fire Brigade tried to bring the fire under control, with many firefighters losing their lives in the process. It was one of the major incidents in history of the brigade, the deadliest incident ever for the Bombay/Mumbai Fire Brigade
Read more about this topic: Mumbai Fire Brigade, History
Famous quotes containing the word independence:
“Traditionally in American society, men have been trained for both competition and teamwork through sports, while women have been reared to merge their welfare with that of the family, with fewer opportunities for either independence or other team identifications, and fewer challenges to direct competition. In effect, women have been circumscribed within that unit where the benefit of one is most easily believed to be the benefit of all.”
—Mary Catherine Bateson (b. 1939)