The 200th anniversary of the world’s first fire service was celebrated in Edinburgh on 23 October, with a special commemorative service hosted by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) at St Giles’ Cathedral in Scotland’s capital city.
The SFRS marked 200 years since the first municipal fire service was founded in the city in 1824, and included tributes to the legacy left by James Braidwood the ‘father of modern fire services’, who was appointed the first Master of Fire Engines and would go on to help form the London Fire Engine Establishment (later to become London Fire Brigade).
SFRS Chief Officer Ross Haggart led the re-dedication of Braidwood’s statue behind the cathedral, before Edinburgh City Council hosted a civic reception in the City Chambers.
Chief Officer Haggart said, “The formation of the first municipal fire service in Edinburgh, and the appointment of James Braidwood to lead it, laid the foundations for us and modern firefighting as we know it.
“Braidwood and those early pioneers established new firefighting techniques and technologies and devised the first methods for training and organising a fire brigade – the basics of which can still be seen today, 200 years later.”
SFRS hosted Her Royal Highness (HRH) The Princess Royal, SFRS staff, politicians, and guests from across the UK at the ceremony in St Giles’ Cathedral. The service featured representations from other UK fire and rescue services, Scotland’s other emergency services and unions such as the Fire Brigades Union. A series of events to mark the bicentenary will continue until the year end, including events at the Museum of Scottish Fire Heritage. (Source: Emergency Services Times).
