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George Palmer Homes
Champion of the Volunteer Fire Service |
The March 6, 1914 New Orleans Daily Picayune marked with regret the death of George Palmer Homes, on the previous day. Homes was known as "Fireman George" to the children in the city. He earned his nickname through his devotion to the volunteer fire service, long after the City of New Orleans instituted a permanent paid firefighting force in late 1891. Holmes never was permitted to become a volunteer fireman, but he served many years as "duster" for the Phoenix Volunteer Fire Company Number 8 located on Victory Street. |
In 1829 a group of men joined to together to fight fires. These volunteers went under the name of the Firemen's Charitable Association, the (FCA), a title it was to keep for 62 years. In 1891, when the paid Fire Department became a reality, the title was officially changed to the New Orleans Fire Department, (NOFD).
History has revealed a pattern. Whenever a city was planned in the old days, organization of Fire Service was never given consideration. Looking back into the annals of time, it has been observed that the birth of a fire department, in any given city, would occur within a few days after a major conflagration had totally destroyed that city.
Territory being plentiful in the early days allowed settlers to erect their homes miles apart from each other. The term exposure was unheard of at that time. If a property went a fire, the owner relied on neighbors for assistance in extinguishment. As a rule, the property was lost. With the increase in population, residential and commercial buildings were placed closer together. If one structure went ablaze, there was a possibility of losing an entire community because of a lack of fire protection. Wooden buildings, open flame of candle and fireplace, were ever present elements of oxygen that created the eternal fire triangle. Prevention, protection, and suppression were now important commodities to be dealt with.
On March 21, 1788, at approximately 1 p.m., a great fire occurred in New Orleans. This happened to be Good Friday of that year. Orleanians were predominantly of the Catholic Faith. A candle on the alter of a privately owned home accidentally came in contact with lace curtains. This home belonged to Don Jose Nunez, the Colony Treasurer. History records the day as having gale force winds blowing in the area. Before long, Nunez' home on Chartres Street was totally ablaze. In those days, the bells on the Church of Saint Louis called the citizens for assemblies at times of emergencies. As is with the Catholic tradition, bells are never tolled on Good Friday. As a result, no alert was sounded. Within a matter of five hours the fire burned itself out. A tally of damages showed that four-fifths of the Colony lay in heap of ashes. What had taken 70 years to accomplish, was gone in a mere five hours.
In April 1829, the first serious step was taken to organize a first class Volunteer Fire Department in the city of New Orleans. History records this event as being the actual birth date of the fire service in our city. Volunteer #1 was organized. All efforts would now be directed to make this unit the best and most formidable foe against fire. Volunteer 1 was recognized and incorporated by the State Legislature. Henri Buckman was selected as the foreman and first chartered member of the company. Buckman was also present when the New Orleans Fire Department went into service in 1891. Because of his 62 years of devoted, efficient service to the FCA, Henri Buckman was officially declared the father of the Fire Service in New Orleans.
On February 17, 1892 at 9 p.m., Box 12 struck-the corner of Canal and Bourbon Streets. The fire companies arrived on the scene. Kinked hose lines delayed the attack on the fire which extended to the next building. As at all major fires, a large crowd gathered, among them many volunteer firemen. As was always customary, they pitched in to help out their comrades-in-arms. Leaping over the restraining lines, they straightened the kinked hoses, enabling the fire at A.W. Schwartz' General Store to be extinguished. It was a scene which had occurred often, but would not be the rule in the future, for this was the first fire to be fought by the paid New Orleans Fire Department.
The Department came into existence on December 15, 1891, replacing the Firemen's Charitable Association. In a way, however, it was not a change, but an evolution. The present fire department is deeply rooted in the city of New Orleans and in the saga of the old Volunteers. Emphasizing the continuity was the man chosen to head the new, paid department, Chief Engineer Thomas O'Connor, leader of the volunteers, remained to become the first Chief of the New Orleans Fire Department. This was the man to bridge the transition, he would continue to lead it for the next twenty years.
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The 10 Superintendents of the 112 year old Fire Department
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| Charles Parent |
2002 - Present |
| Warren E. McDaniels |
1993 - 2002 |
| William J. McCrossen |
1973 - 1993 |
| Louis J. SanSalvador |
1970 - 1973 |
| Arthur J. Heyd |
1963 - 1970 |
| Howard L. Dey |
1946 - 1962 |
| Frank P. Rivard |
1945 - 1946 |
| John M. Evans |
1920 - 1945 |
| Louis Pujol |
1911 - 1919 |
| Thomas O'Connor |
1891 - 1911 |
For more New Orleans Fire Department History you may want to visit the Fire Museum's Web Site. | | |
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