Marking 2 centuries of putting out the flames in Fredericton

Fredericton firefighters are looking back on two centuries of battling fires in the city — and things have changed a bit over the years.

In the 1800s, for instance, New Brunswickers were required by law to keep leather buckets inside their homes, with their names painted on them. When a fire broke out, residents had to grab their buckets and help put out the flames.

The leather bucket rule turned up in provincial legislation that David McKinley, assistant deputy fire chief, came across during his research into the history of the Fredericton department.

Birthday plans by the department, one of the oldest in Canada, included a banquet on Wednesday night.

"I think it's important to remember where we came from," said McKinley, who has been collecting information about the local fire department for 15 years.

He's tracked the progression of firefighting equipment and transportation, including the horses that once helped out at fires.

"The equipment we use is so much different than back then."

In the late 1800s and early 1900s, firefighters also took part in tournaments, where they competed to put out fires.

"It's a sense of pride if you were the first fire company to put water on a fire," McKinley said.

He said the historical information could easily have been lost over time.

"There's a long history and it's a rich history and people are interested."

And one thing that hasn't changed with local firefighters over the years is the companionship, a bond that holds true today.

"They lived together, they worked together, they sweat together, they win together, they lose together," McKinley said. "They have each other to lean on."

This summer, the fire department will have a display at the Fredericton Regional Museum to celebrate 200 years and share its history with city residents.

There's also an online Fredericton Firefighters Museum that people can visit to see stories and photos of artifacts.

Three displays have been set up around town: at the fire station on York Street, the station at Two Nations Crossing, and Savage's Bicycle Center, where there was once a fire station.

"Our job is to help people, save lives and save property and it's been that way for 200 years," McKinley said. "We see people at their best, we see them at their worst."