Chicago Fire Department

Initially, a volunteer organization known as the "Washington Volunteers," the Chicago Fire Department, founded just before Chicago's incorporation as a city in 1837, aimed to be an early fire prevention measure due to the city's buildings being built of combustible materials, resulting in an increased need to improve firefighting skills. Proving to be an instrumentally crucial addition to the city, the department continued to successfully protect the public from fire hazards, notably in 1867, where approximately twenty-five thousand dollars worth of personal possessions were salvaged after a fire began on Lake and Clark Street. The Chicago Fire Department's long-time commitment to public fire safety has resulted in effective adaptation to adversity, improvements in firefighting training and technology, and protecting lives and property, ultimately significantly contributing to the city's development.