Richmond Volunteer Fire Department fonds
- Part Of:
- Richmond Volunteer Fire Department fonds
- Type
- Community Records
- GMD
- textual records; graphic; cartographic material
- Date
- 1922-1981
- Level:
- Fonds
- Physical Description:
- 48 cm of textual records; 58 photograph prints : 56 b&w ; 2 x 2.5 in. to 8 x 10 in; 1 map
- Scope:
- Fonds consists of records generated through the activities carried out by two of the volunteer brigades (Brighouse and Bridgeport), the Central Fire Committee and the Richmond Volunteer Fire Fighters' Association. Within the four series sub-series have been identified according to function and form.
- History / Biographical:
- From 1920 until 1973 there were five volunteer fire brigades operating in the Richmond area: Brighouse, Bridgeport, Sea Island, East Richmond and Steveston. The most intense overall period of activity was between 1930-1967. The major activities of the brigades focused on fire-calls, fire-drills, inhalator calls and air raid precaution during the Second World War. Each of the five district brigades were completely separate with regard to their internal organization and administration. The brigades consisted of offices such as Chief, Assistant Chief and Secretary-Treasurer, who were elected at the Annual General Meetings. Standing Committees such as Business, Good and Welfare, Social and Publicity were responsible for the ongoing day-to-day administration of the brigades, while special committees were struck in reaction to specific problems. The first paid man was hired in 1951 and was the beginning of a major transition in fire-fighting. Slowly the number of paid fire-fighters went up, until the end of 1967, when there were thirty-seven. Each hall, with the exception of East Richmond, had a man on duty twenty-four hours a day. Towards the end of 1969, under pressure from the fire-fighters Local 1286 and various citizens groups, a major hiring plan was started, until the paid men numbered one hundred. The demise of the volunteer groups was inevitable when in 1969, all of the men from Sea Island resigned. Brighouse and Bridgeport soon followed. Steveston resigned in January 1972 and East Richmond hung on until June 16, 1973.
- Custodial History:
- The bulk of the fonds was received in May 1986 from Captain John Plecas who was a member of the Historical Committee of the Richmond Fire Fighters' Union Local 1286. A second accession was received from the Municipal Clerk in May 1986, which consisted of minutes of the Central Fire Committee.
- Name(s):
- Richmond Volunteer Fire Department
Fire Department
- Creator:
- Richmond Volunteer Fire Department
RecordType=textual recordsgraphiccartographic material
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