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International Association of Fire Fighters

New York State Professional Fire Fighters Association

Chief Ronald M. Brement
rbrement@romefd.com
Central Fire Station
158 Black River Blvd.
Rome, N.Y. 13440
(315) 339-7784

Population - 42,000
72.5 sq. mi. (since assuming the former Griffiss Air Force Base)
protected by 85 members (authorized strength - 90 members).

SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE ROME FIRE DEPARTMENT

Fire Suppression Vehicle Extrication High Angle Rescue Fire Prevention Program Hazard Pre Planning Building Plans Review Water & Ice Rescue Arson Case Work Confined Space Rescue Haz-Mat Response

Emergency Medical Services EMT-D Public Education First Aid, CPR, etc. Comprehensive Inspection Services Automatic Alarm Monitoring Salvage & Property Conservation Work Fire Cause Investigation Disaster Planning & Response Juvenile Fire Setting Counseling High School Internship Program Trench & Structure Collapse Search & Rescue

A Partial Rome Fire History
The following has been gathered from many sources and is still being verified.

May 1781

Fort Stanwix - An important site during the Revolutionary War - The Stars and Stripes were first unfurled in the face of an enemy in battle here on March 4, 1777. Fort Stanwix never surrendered during the war, but with only a few guards present within the fort, a fire quickly spread to destroy all buildings within the fort walls.

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Early settlers had to provide their own leather buckets for neighbors to help throw water onto a fire. Water to fight fires was acquired from cisterns, watering troughs for the horses, rivers, creeks, or later the canals.

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1819

Village of Rome was incorporated, and the first piece of fire fighting equipment was purchased - a hand operated pump and some leather hose.

1827

The first volunteer fire company was formed with 20 men.

1828

The second volunteer fire company was formed with 14 men. Three months later another 12 were added.

1844

An entire block on the south side of Dominick St. was lost to fire.

Jan. 6th 1846

The American Hotel was destroyed by fire. One life and an entire block on the north side of Dominick St. was lost.

March 15, 1848

Fire starting in the Jail was first noticed by a prisoner. It spread to the Courthouse, then to the Methodist Church, and to a dwelling to the east of the Jail. One woman, and three male prisoners were rescued. The Roman Citizen newspaper, naming the present fire department a disgrace, called for an ‘Organized’ Fire Department after this fire. Very inflammatory articles appeared demanding a reliable water system after this fire due to the inadequacy of the cisterns and water troughs to supply the needed water.

1855

All buildings lost on E. Whitesboro St from Stanwix Hall to Black River Canal.

Now with a total of six volunteer fire companies totaling 240 men, the fire department was incorporated and the first Fire Chief was elected. He was paid $50/yr.

The first fireman to get his horse-drawn hose cart or steamer to the fire was paid $1.

Jan. 24, 1856

White Warehouse on the Erie Canal. Total loss plus several businesses on James St. and the dock.

John Miller alias "Tame Indian", perished in the fire after rescuing his 10 yr old son.

April 30th 1858

The Old Red Brewery on Mill Pond, together with house and barn attached were lost.

Betts Adsit died - sleeping in the barn during the fire.

Sept. 10th, 1865

Fire started in old storehouse on 153 dominick St. - spread to adjoining wagon shop & the blacksmith shop.

1866 - A bad year for fires in Rome, N.Y.

Jan 21st, 1866

Fire broke out in a tennement house NE corner of Dominick & Jay St. - SW wind spread flames to adjoining buildings. Five dwellings were destroyed plus a barn and lumber storehouse.

4^th July

A hot air observation balloon, made of oil soaked canvas, broke loose. It struck the steeple of the First Methodist Church as it arose. Some reports say that it was already on fire at this point, others say it burst into flames upon impact with the steeple or the chimney. One part of the bag fell onto the Court House, setting it on fire. Finally, the rest of the balloon fell onto a house which was consumed along with the neighboring house.

29^th July

The first firefighter fatality occurred during a fire which leveled a whole block. The terrible fire broke out in the Willett Stables from a pipe which a man had been smoking, about 2pm, and quickly spread destroying several stores and the Post Office.

Help was requested from Utica and Syracuse. 'Modern' steamers were brought by railroad flat cars, but the fire had progressed too far before they arrived. The steamer from Utica arrived at 4pm, and the two rigs from Syracuse arrived at 5pm.

A modern steamer was ordered that year to bring Rome's fire fighting equipment more up to date, with another to follow the next year.

Phillip Bickle 1846 - 1866 was crushed beneath a fallen wall during this 'Great Fire'. A twelve foot monument was erected in 1886 to honor Rome's fallen fireman.

CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS OF STEAMERS

CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS OF LADDER & STEAMER IN BARN

1872

The first of Rome’s water works was established, bringing water to the main part of the city by means of pipes and fire hydrants.

1880

The business block on the corner of Dominick and James burned.

Sept. 16, 1881

3 am. Fire broke out in a barn at the Byrnes Hotel. The barn and the hotel were both lost. Sparks from this fire kindled the roof of the Brodock Soap Works which also became a total loss. When the firefighters were finishing work on these fires, they were called to a freight house at the junction of the major railroads. This was also a total loss along with about a dozen neighboring dwellings on Ridge St.

1882

The members of the Independent Hose Company, No. 1, became tired of pulling their fire equipment to fires and bought a horse to pull their hose wagon.

CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS OF HORSES & EQUIPMENT IN FRONT OF BARNS

December 1882

The first telegraph system was begun to be installed starting with 23 boxes. The first fire alarm signal was a steam whistle, which was synchronized with the telegraph system, at one of the factories. Later it was connected to the bell at City Hall.

CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS OF BOX SYSTEM

Jan. 30, 1884

Saulpaugh block, Armstrong Block, S. James St. was burned. A clerk rushed into a store to recover some money and papers, but never came out.

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1891

The paid department came into existence. There was a new Chief, four drivers, two stokers, and two engineers.

The first paid firefighters worked six straight 24 hour shifts, going home only for meals. They got the 7th day off.

The six volunteer companies with a total of 240 members were still in existence at that time. By 1966 there were three volunteer companies left totaling 140 members.

Dec. 4, 1893

Rome Locomotive Works

March 4,5 , 1897

Bingham Block

April 14, 1903

Washington Street Opera House

Feb. 7 , 1905

Merchant Iron Mill

Aug. 29, 1907

Wiggins, Pritchard, and Dickson Blocks, Farmers Hotel - Two days later an article in the Utica Saturday Globe called for a more adequate water supply.

Feb. 2, 1908

Ethridge, Benner, and Hammond Blocks - Fire was fought in a blizzard by Rome Paid plus 100 or more volunteers. Firefighters from Syracuse and Utica arrived by railroad to help fight the blaze.click here for photos

Oct. 20, 1908

Street Car Barns on John St.

Nov. 1, 1908

Ward B, Rome State School

Jan. 8, 1910

New water supply completed.

Feb. 8, 1915

Corcoran Block

Sept. 3, 1915

First motor drawn fire apparatus - triple combination, and a chemical and hose combination American La France. One week later the first motorized pumping engine arrived.

CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS OF MOTOR PUMPERS

Nov. 25, 1915

City Hall

Jan. 27, 1920

Weiss Block

1924

Last horse was sold - everything now completely motorized. Some of the old horse-drawn equipment was kept in reserve drawn by a tractor.

March 17, 1932

Murphy Memorial Hospital

April 28, 1938

Rome Free Academy

1938

Mohican Fire - Three people saved by use of Segrave 75' aerial ( one of the first all hydraulic steel alloy ladders manufactured ) which was purchased after they had trouble getting to the roof at the RFA fire.

CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS OF OLD LADDER - WHY WOULD YOU EVER WANT TO REPLACE THIS?

April 3, 1939

W.T. Grant Store

March 21, 1940

Larkin Block

1948

First 2-way radios used.

Jan. 24, 1952

Crescent Bowling Alley - A four story structure called the Queirolo Block on S. James St. Fought in below zero degree weather.

CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS OF WINTER TIME.

Dec. 23, 1955

218 S. Washington St.

Jan. 20, 1956

705 E. Dominick St. - Two children died.

April 22, 1956

511 Lewis St.- Family of seven died.

Sept. 19, 1956

Lerman Furniture Warehouse

Oct. 29, 1956

Tannery Rd. - Two children died.

Jan. 2, 1957

Black River Blvd. Shopping Center

May 16, 1957

White’s Hotel - One person died. Her estranged husband was convicted of arson.

Dec.30, 1958

Green Acres Restaurant

July 1, 1966

Comstock Lumber Company - Probably the most intense blaze in Rome’s history.

Nov. 27, 1974

Townsend Shoe Store

May 24, 1975

Coleman Brothers Transportation Lines

August 19, 1975

Tyhill Farm - One boy perished.

May 12, 1976

Lumas Manufacturing Company

Feb. 9, 1983

Barney Levitt Hardware Store

Jan. 31 1985

1323 Floyd Ave - One person died.

Feb. 4 , 1986

Universal Linen Company

Feb. 23 1987

7123 Brennon Ave - Two children died.

May 28, 1988

Madison Plaza Apartments

Jan. 10, 1991

Rome Art and Community Center

Bruce Hancock - bhancock@romefd.com - page content & design

This Fire Department Web Ring site owned by Rome Fire Fighters.

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