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.
13. Brave firefighters
Firefighting is a dangerous job - and sadly two Edinburgh-based firefighters have lost their lives in the course of their work in recent years. Ewan Williamson (left) died after being sent to fight a serious fire at the Balmoral Bar in Dalry Road on July 12, 2009. He was meant to be on annual leave but had offered to do overtime to make up for a shortage of staff. He became trapped inside the building and colleagues were unable to reach him. Barry Martin suffered critical injuries while battling a blaze at the Jenners building on Princes Street on January 23, 2023 and died in hospital four days later. | contributed