Across #STLCity, our firehouses are glowing purple in solidarity with survivors and in recognition of #DomesticViolenceAwareness Month. Each light carries a message: You are seen. You are valued. You deserve safety and support. We stand with survivors, honoring their strength, and remain committed to a community where everyone feels safe, especially at home. #YourFireDepartment

3500blk of Marcus - Occupied two story four family brick building, heavy #fire on the second floor. Two lines deployed. Primary search underway. #STLCity Engine Company 24 is first due. Battalion 6 is in Command.

Battalion Fire Chief William Pollihan 801B - #FirefighterFriday #YourFireDepartment #STLCity #ExcellenceForEveryone #SuzyGormanPhotography

🔍 The #CuratorsCorner explores the origins of firefighting in our city and the distinctive parade hats and helmets worn by its earliest volunteers. In 1810, St. Louis passed its first fire ordinance, requiring men age 18 and older to serve in either the north or south bucket brigade. Households were also required to maintain two buckets and a ladder capable of reaching their roof. As St. Louis grew, wooden buildings, crowded streets, and the expanding steamboat industry created increasing #fire hazards. Following a major brewery fire in 1829, citizens organized the city’s first volunteer fire company, Central No. 1. While the city provided a hand pumped fire engine, volunteer companies relied heavily on community donations and membership dues. By 1834, volunteers were required to wear uniforms. Each company proudly displayed its own colors, name, and motto on distinctive parade hats and helmets, reflecting the pride and competitive spirit of early firefighters. Eventually, 10 volunteer companies served St. Louis. Their equipment included hand drawn engines, hose reels, and specialized devices called “plug catchers,” used by young men and boys racing to secure hydrants for their companies. On April 4, 1857, a city ordinance authorized the establishment of a paid steam fire department. The volunteer era gradually ended, with the final two companies disbanding in 1859. The historic hats and helmets pictured here represent more than firefighting equipment. They symbolize the traditions, community pride, and dedication that helped establish today’s St. Louis Fire Department. More than two centuries later, our commitment to protecting our neighbors continues. #YourFireDepartment

Thank you, @saintlouismayor, for taking time out of your busy schedule during #FirePreventionWeek to visit Engine House 2 and thank members of the busiest companies in the city for their daily service. And a special thank you to Mama Spencer for the homemade cookies! Your thoughtfulness made the visit even sweeter. #YourFireDepartment #STLCity #ExcellenceForEveryone

The best ingredient for a safe meal? Your attention. As #FirePreventionMonth continues, #YourFireDepartment reminds you to stay in the kitchen while frying, boiling, grilling, or broiling food. If you need to step away, turn off the stove. A phone call, a knock at the door, or a quick distraction can pull you away. Make turning off the burner part of your routine before leaving the kitchen. Let’s keep dinner memorable for the right reasons. A safer #STLCity starts with all of us.

A battery that becomes unusually hot, swells, leaks, smells strange, or makes popping or hissing sounds is giving you a warning. Stop using the device. Keep this week’s lessons in your everyday routine: use the right charger, charge on a hard surface, and unplug when charging is complete. Small action. Big impact. A safer #STLCity starts with all of us. #YourFireDepartment #FirePreventionWeek #ChargeIntoSafety

3400blk of S. Kingshighway - One story frame commercial building, heavy #fire showing in the rear. One line deployed. Primary search underway. #STLCity Hook & Ladder 3 is first due. Battalion 3 is in Command.

🔋 Fully charged? Time to unplug. Leaving a device plugged in after it reaches a full charge can increase heat and stress on the battery. Follow the manufacturer’s charging instructions, unplug when charging is complete, and charge while you’re awake so you can watch for problems. Small action. Big impact. Protecting our community begins at home. #YourFireDepartment #STLCity #ChargeIntoFireSafety

🔍#CuratorsCorner explores the history of the Fire Wardens and Property Guards, an organization that helped shape fire protection in St. Louis. Established in 1844, the organization grew from an 1841 ordinance calling for volunteers whose duties would focus exclusively on salvaging property rather than fighting fires. The Mayor selected able-bodied citizens from each city ward, with no more than 25 members per ward. These volunteers, known as Property Guards, responded to fires to protect and preserve goods, merchandise, and personal belongings. From these volunteers, the Mayor appointed five members from each ward as Fire Wardens, granting them additional authority to maintain order at emergency scenes. Fire Wardens could stretch chains across streets to control access and even make arrests at fires. Each received a distinctive hat badge, a 15-foot chain, and a staff symbolizing their authority. Property Guards carried canvas bags to assist with salvage operations. In 1845, the Wardens received exemptions from jury duty and peacetime military service, privileges also extended to volunteer firefighters. For decades, members responded to emergencies on foot. That changed in 1868, when the organization acquired a horse-drawn wagon equipped with tarps, extinguishers, and other salvage equipment. A significant transformation came in 1874, when the Board of Underwriters studied Chicago’s salvage operations and organized the professional Underwriters Salvage Corps of St. Louis, bringing the era of the Fire Wardens and Property Guards to a close. The St. Louis Salvage Corps became so successful that similar organizations were established in other cities. Their legacy reminds us that the fire service has always been about more than extinguishing fires. Protecting lives, preserving property, and reducing loss have been part of our mission for generations. #YourFireDepartment #STLCity

4400blk of Maryland - Occupied two story brick dwelling. #Fire showing on the front porch. One line deployed. Primary search underway. #STLCity Engine 28 is first due. Battalion 5 is in Command.

After a #fire forced her from her home this morning in the Mt. Pleasant neighborhood, a moment of comfort came right there on the curb. Her unit in a multifamily dwelling sustained moderate damage, and for a time, her cats were unaccounted for. #Firefighters located them and reunited them with her. Sitting on the curb, she held them close after an already difficult morning. Caring for our neighbors includes understanding what matters most to them. Sometimes, that means helping bring a family back together, paws and all. #YourFireDepartment #ExcellenceForEveryone #STLCity

4400blk of Minnesota - Occupied two story four family brick dwelling, #fire on the second floor. One line deployed. Primary search underway. Initial report of all occupants accounted for outside the building. #STLCity Truck Company 4 is first due. Battalion 4 is in Command.