FIRE: Sally Costik, curator of the Bradford Landmark Society, has been sharing some information about early volunteer fire companies in Bradford.

There were nine. We brought you the first four in Wednesday’s column.

“The fifth fire company, the United Hose, was formed on March 25, 1879 by the employees of the United Pipe Line division of Standard Oil Co.,” Sally told us. “An independent, when called to fires in the big 35,000 barrel tanks, they used a rifle cannon to shoot holes in the burning tanks, to draw off the oil. This company disbanded after several years.”

“The sixth fire company, the Cornen Hose Company, was organized in Tarport (now East Bradford) on March 2, 1881. Named after the Cornen Brothers, prominent oil producers, it owned its own horse and parade carriage.

“The seventh fire company, the Central Hose Company, was formed in September 1885. An independent, it was formed for the protection of Bovaird & Seyfang property.”

While many were formed for protection of specific regions, this next one was formed as a response to an earlier fire.

“The eighth fire company, the Potter Hose, was organized in August 1891 after a disastrous fire on Pleasant Street,” Sally wrote. “This company provided protection for third and fourth wards in the city.

“The ninth company, the Liberty Hose Company, was formed Oct. 10, 1892, for the protection of Fifth Ward residents. The hose house, still standing by the way, is located on High Street. These were all volunteer fire companies. A paid city fire department. The Central Fire Department, was finally organized in 1903.”

Sally said a few other volunteer fire companies were in existence for a very short time.

“The Young Americans, a volunteer company, fought the Tarport fire in 1880. They are only in existence for about two years. And Falcon Hose, comprised of ‘retired’ (can you retire from a job if you are a volunteer?) firemen, also helped to fight fires when needed in the late 1890s.”

More from the Landmark Society tomorrow.