Fire Buffs promote the general welfare of the fire and rescue service and protect its heritage and history. Famous Fire Buffs through the years include New York Fire Surgeon Harry Archer, Boston Pops Conductor Arthur Fiedler, New York Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia and - legend has it - President George Washington.


Wednesday, April 09, 2008

DAILY LOG - 1949

The Springfield Fire Division operated eight engines, three trucks and an emergency squad in the years following World War II.

Then as now, the city's firefighters answered a wide variety of calls for help, as noted in the log of runs for May 23, 1949 and printed in the next day's Springfield Daily News.
  • 479 Selma Rd. - Emergency Squad assisted Mrs. Anna Steinmetz, 83, heart attack.
  • 2245 South Limestone St. - False fire alarm.
  • 237 Northern Ave. - Residence of Joseph Nofz for short in refrigerator wiring. Loss $10.
  • 203 West College Ave. - 2,300-volt electric line fell on parked car.
Of course, there is no such thing as a ``routine call'' in the fire service. A day earlier, a New York Central passenger train collided with Truck 1 at Washington Street and Fountain Avenue, killing firefighter Alfred E. Kime, 33.