African American History Month: A Celebration of Pioneers in the American Fire Service |
By Deputy Chief Chip Nanko | |
February 11, 2022 | |
The oldest documents identifying government sanctioned African American firefighters were found in New Orleans, Louisiana. A devastating fire in July 1817 led the governing body to organize its people to avoid another conflagration. All draymen and their equipment as well as individual free men of color and slaves were recruited. |
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