Given that our 1st English language presentation of our 2024 / 2025 series fell on September 11, it was most appropriate that our guest that night, Peter McBride, spoke about the contrast between fire fighting in Bytown and early Ottawa, as compared to fire fighting in Ottawa today. Peter is the President of the Bytown Fire Brigade, with whom we were proud to partner for this evening’s presentation. Chief McBride is a 32 year veteran of the Ottawa Fire Department, a registered safety professional, and a passionate advocate of Fire Literacy.
Peter started us at the very beginning of mechanized fire fighting in Bytown by showing us “The Dominion”, the first hand-pumper in Bytown. It was stationed on Barrack Hill with the Royal Engineers, but, pulled by soldiers, made frequent dashes into the town to help fight fires. Its hand-pump, which required a team of 16 men, could force a stream of water up to 3 storeys in height. Miraculously, it survived and is now in the collection of the Bytown Fire Brigade, who, after much restoration, bring it to special events and demonstrate its operation.
Peter explained that in these early days, “fire fighting”, was more a matter of attempting to save as much of the contents of the structures than the successful extinguishing of a fire. There was no water system, so no hydrants. The water was carried to the scene in water carts, or, if it was lucky enough to be beside a pond or river, water could be sucked into the hand-pumper. Most of the work was still done by bucket brigade.
Fire fighting at this time was not a service, it was a business. Peter told us that the money needed to purchase equipment was put up by local businesses or raised from subscriptions. There were no dedicated buildings for the storage of the equipment. He showed us a plaque, or fire mark, that would be displayed on a building to indicate that it had paid for some degree of protection or assistance. Towns were unplanned, thus there were no regulations on the types of buildings or activities that could be located together or regulations regarding the distances between buildings. In a town built primarily of wood, fires spread quickly.
In 1838, Uppertown, the most prosperous area, bought its own hand-pumper, “The Mutual”, likely with financial support from the insurance company. Later it and the fire brigade that used it were renamed as “The Chaudière”. They were a very proficient brigade and won many firefighting championships. Their banner survived, but in a highly deteriorated condition. The Bytown Fire Brigade has recently digitally remastered the banner. The story of this can be read here: Bytown Fire Brigade celebrates a banner year
In 1847, the first Hook and Ladder Company, another hand-pulled apparatus, was paired with “The Alliance”, the hand-pumper in Lowertown. Peter explained that the rivalry and distrust that existed between Uppertown and Lowertown in all things also infected the fire brigades, causing Council, in 1851 to establish a Fire Committee and in 1853 to authorize the building of dedicated engine houses and the purchase of additional engines. In 1867, John Langford was made Ottawa’s first Fire Chief, though firefighting was still performed by the privately run brigades. He was well respected, having come through the Chaudière, as was his Deputy from Lowertown.
In 1870, J. R. Booth purchased the first steam-powered pumper in the city, but this was far from the biggest fire related story of that year. Peter told us of the Great Fire of the Ottawa Valley, started by some railway workers clearing brush between Almonte and Pakenham. Driven by gale-force winds it reached Ottawa two days later. The Council called on all its citizens to fight the blaze and it was only by blowing up of the dam near Dows Lake, that flooded the Preston Street area, and a drop in the winds, that saved the rest of the city. In 1873 another fire on Daly Street destroyed an entire block. Change was needed.
Peter described the changes in fire protection that took place in 1874. The most important of these was the formation of the Ottawa Fire Department, now celebrating its 150th anniversary. This meant paid fire fighters and the phasing out of the volunteer brigades, which disappeared by 1887. The first hose companies were also formed in Ottawa at this time. Along with this, there was the introduction of a water works system and hydrants, though these were temperamental and unreliable. Fire call boxes were also installed to provide a rapid reporting of fires.
Peter explained that, as a lumber town, Ottawa faced extraordinary risks. These erupted in 1900 with the Great Fire that started in Hull and spread to Ottawa fueled by the tremendous piles of stacked lumber. The Historical Society has a pamphlet that provides more information on this fire 009. The Great Fire of Ottawa. By 1903, much of Ottawa had been rebuilt, as had the lumber piles of J.R. Booth. Fire broke out again, consuming much of the same area of Ottawa as it had just three years earlier. More on this now almost forgotten fire can be read in this fine article When the Great fire of 1903 ravaged through Preston. Despite two devastating fires, the lumber barons continued to stack timber within the city, seeming to have an unusual amount of influence over the decisions makers at Council.
Peter recounted a story that demonstrated the cooperative nature of fire fighters in different communities. In 1915 there was a fire in the Village of Russell and a call went out for help. Ottawa’s Silsby steamer was loaded onto a train and taken to save the village. The story has since been retold in a children’s book Silsby Saves the Day.
Peter concluded his look into the past with a reference to the 1916 fire that claimed the Centre Block of the parliament Buildings, and switched his attention to a brief review of the Ottawa Fire Service as it exists today.
The Historical Society of Ottawa has a pamphlet available online that also tells part of this story. 038. The Early Days of Fire Fighting in Ottawa
Peter described the challenges faced at amalgamation in 2001, when multiple fire departments, each with different staffing, training, equipment and expertise had to be merged into a single force. Managing this process was extremely complex and took some time. The Ottawa of today is a very complex city with multiple levels of governments, foreign embassies, heritage buildings and about 1.25 million inhabitants. It is also geographically one of the largest cities in Canada featuring everything from high-rise apartment towers to barns and silos. Naturally then the fire service of today is also large and highly complex.
Peter explained that although the public still think of fire fighters as the people who actually put out the fires, from the 45 current stations, there is now a lot more involved. The department now has divisions dedicated to the training of the crews in the newest techniques and on the newest equipment; to educate and inform the public in our multi-media world as to fire hazards; to enhance the safety of the fire fighters; a sophisticated communications structure to direct resources to and within emergencies; and to perform evidence-based research into the effects of new materials on the risk and spread of fires and how best to deal with these in the different built environments in which the fire service must operate both today and in the future. Apart from this, the fire fighters now respond to all kinds of emergencies, as diverse as medical responses to tornadoes and other climate-driven emergencies.
Peter concluded his presentation with an invitation to anyone who has stories, photos, or memorabilia related to fire fighting in Canada, and especially in our area to please get in touch with the Bytown Fire Brigade. They would love to talk with you.
Peter’s full presentation can be viewed at: The History of FireFighting, Early Bytown to modern Ottawa
