FAMOUS FIRE BRIGADE

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 46, 17 November 1937, Page 6

FAMOUS FIRE BRIGADE

. i • I. . . History of Copenhagen . Department Formed 250 years ago to protect the city from". bombardment, Copenhagen's fire department now ' is studying defence- against air raids, its chief aunounced in connection with . the anniversary eeleb^ation. " Of iginally conceived in 1659,' when . the Swedes were causing terror in the city with. their. ultra-mOdern artillery, whieh - hurled "red-hot " cannon balls into th'e wbodeh buildings of Copenhagen, the fire department was not formally organised until l687. : ' Two of . its heaviest days were in 1728 -when 1450 houses and five churches were' burned, and in 1795, when' the city was again almost wiped out • by a fire that destroyed 947 houses. In • 1801 and 1807, wlien Lord Nelson's fleet lay "off in the sound and bom■barded the eity, the fire department again: had defence duties. ' Sincp .then its service has been more peaceful. It has the most modern equipment, with a, radio network ■ to direct the iirefighters, and a . new Dan* ish "foam-tender"' for smothering electrical or oil-fires with a blanket of chemical f oam. . Asbestos uniforms and smoke masks help to protect the ; personnel in their work. ;