A Look Back! The History of the Firefighter Challenge Coin

Custom challenge coins are a unique means of honoring law enforcement officers and other public servants. This includes the brave firefighters who continually risk their lives for the safety of others.

The Origins of Organized Firefighting

You might be surprised at the long, distinguished history of firefighting and the firefighter challenge coin.

Firefighting began with the Emperor Augustus of Rome, around the first century A.D. Before that, there were reports of actual water pumps used to extinguish fires, specifically in ancient Egypt. However, it was in the Roman Empire that firefighting became an organized institution. Firefighting remained rudimentary in scope, though, for a long time.

The Great London Fire and its Aftermath

In the 17th century, a great fire in the city of London made all Western governments re-examine the capacity of firefighters. Then in 1673, Dutch inventor Jan Van der Heyden developed the first fire hose. In the United States around the same time, the first fire company went into service in Boston. A year later, Benjamin Franklin established the Union Fire Company in Philadelphia.

It should be noted that George Washington was a volunteer firefighter in Alexandria, Virginia. He even bought a new fire engine and gave it to the town, which adds another chapter in the kind and heroic narrative of those who fight fires.

Fire Departments Become Universal

It wasn't until the Civil War when fire departments became universal across the country. Many were then fully funded by local, state, and federal governments, although smaller communities continued to depend on volunteer departments. Many still do to this day. The first female firefighter was Molly Williams in 1818, in New York City.

A Debt of Gratitude

Of course, that's just the beginning of the proud history of firefighting. Over the years, firefighters have saved the lives of countless thousands of people around the world, often at the cost of their own. That includes the 343 New York City firefighters who died on Sept. 11, 2001 in the world trade center, nine who lost their lives in a Charleston, S.C. furniture store fire in 2007, and many more.

Every community owes a debt of gratitude to its firefighters for their dedication and sacrifice. For the men and women who put their lives on the line to keep the rest of us safe, a custom firefighter challenge coin is a small token that can only begin to convey our gratitude.