Compony origin?

[dfdex1]

I have looked all over search engines, but I cant find out where the term company came from refering to Engines and Ladders.

Any help would be appreciated
dfdex1

[NJFFSA16]

I'm not sure I understand the question. You want to know why they are called engine and ladder companies?

If you searched using the word "compony"...it is spelled incorrectly and I doubt you would get hits. The correct spelling is company.

This question might get a response in the Fire Buff threads...as there are some historians who frequent that category.:D

[Adze39]

Where's Dal90 when you need him?

Maybe if we all clap our hands and say we believe...sorry...watched "Hook" this weekend with my daughter...

[hfd66truck]

Well, I'll give it a shot.

I would think that Ladder companies is obvious. But the original term was Hook and Ladder, because these companies carried hooks and ladders. I believe that Engine companies were originally hose companies and many companies did both from one house and went by some type of geographical name or village name. Try any book on the history of the FDNY or the History of Firefighting....that'll probably help.

Dave

[MOTOWN88]

It comes from the original INSURANCE COMPANY fire departments. Back way way in the day the fire fighters and fire departments were employed by a specific insurance company and would respond to a house that was covered by a specific insurance agency. If your house were a burnin your insurance company fire department would show up dig up the “plug” and start pumpin the water. They would also carry items such as “Bed Keys” to dismantle your bed and large bags to load up as many of your possessions as possible. When things got out of hand they would throw large “Hooks” into your windows and onto your roof in order to pull the structure down to prevent a conflagration.