ABSTRACT
The Chinese formed the first fire brigade about 6,000 years ago. Fire brigades next appeared historically in Rome about 300 bc, when wealthy Romans formed them manned by slaves. But these private companies sometimes proved to be too entrepreneurial, “encouraging” homeowners to either subscribe to their service or have their home “accidentally” torched. Caesar Augustus hence created the first public firefighting force in 24 bc. Night watches, called Vigiles, comprised of 600 slaves, were located in seven fire stations throughout Rome. Carriages conveyed firefighters equipped with buckets and axes. After “Nero fiddled while Rome burned,” the city fireproofed better, with broad streets, thicker walls, more fire-resistant building materials, better designed roofs, and regulated building heights.
