Up until then, fires were attended by crews from rival insurance companies’ fire brigades. But a series of serious fires prompted the setting up of a Fire Engine Committee which reported the firemen from the different insurance offices “are often wrangling and quarrelling in place of joining their efforts as they ought to do”.
James Braidwood, born and bred in the Capital, was appointed the first firemaster at the age of 24, just two months before the Great Fire of Edinburgh and was hailed for his heroism.
He pioneered a scientifc approach to firefighting, published one of the first manuals on fire engineering in 1830, “On the Construction of Fire Engines and Apparatus”, and established principles of firefighting that are still applied today.
Braidwood is recognised as the father of the modern fire service around the world.
Scroll through these pictures charting firefighting through the years.
James Braidwood, born and bred in the Capital, was appointed the first firemaster at the age of 24, just two months before the Great Fire of Edinburgh and was hailed for his heroism.
5. James Braidwood statue
A statue to James Braidwood - father of the modern fire servce - was unveiled in Edinburgh's Parliament Square in July 2008. After leading the Edinburgh fire brigade for 7 years, Braidwood became the first director of the London Fire Engine Establishment in 1833. He died in 1861 when a wall collapsed on top of him as he fought a fire near London Bridge. | TSPL Photo: Dan Phillips
6. Great-great-granddaughter takes the wheel
Vanessa Braidwood - great-great-granddaughter of fire brigade pioneer James Braidwood - at the wheel of a historic fire engine when visited the old Museum of Fire at Lauriston Place, which closed in 2016. A new Museum of Scottish Fire Heritage opened at McDonald Road fire station in 2023. | Neil Hanna
7. C&A fire, Princes Street, 1955
One of Edinburgh's worst fires was the one which engulfed the C&A Modes store on Princes Street on November 10, 1955. Firefighters tackled the blaze from high up on turntable ladders. No lives were lost, but the building was destroyed and later replaced by a new C&A's. | TSPL
8. Jeffrey Street fire, 1955
The very same day as the blaze which destroyed C&A on Princes Street, there was another spectacular blaze just the other side of Waverley station, in Jeffrey Street. The fire at C W Carr warehouse and James Aitman shoe factory consumed both buildings. | TSPL