Crucible of Fire: Nineteenth-Century Urban Fires and the Making of the Modern Fire Service

by Bruce Hensler

Crucible of Fire is an eye-opening look at today’s fire service and a thorough examination of what firefighters, civic leaders, and ordinary citizens can do to protect their homes and communities from the mistakes of the past. Urban conflagrations, such as the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 and the Great Boston Fire the following year, terrorized the citizens of nineteenth-century American cities. However, urban rebirth in the aftermath of great fires offered a chance to shape the future. Ultimately residents and planners created sweeping changes in the methods of constructing buildings, planning city streets, engineering water distribution systems, underwriting fire insurance, and firefighting itself.  Crucible of Fire describes how the practical knowledge gained from fighting nineteenth-century fires gave form and function to modern fire protection efforts. Changes in materials and building design resulted directly from tragedies such as fires in supposedly fireproof hotels. Thousands of buildings burned, millions of dollars were lost, the fire insurance industry faltered, and the nature of volunteerism changed radically before municipal authorities took the necessary actions. The great fires formed a crucible of learning for firefighters, engineers, architects, underwriters, and citizens. Veteran firefighter Bruce Hensler shows how the modern American fire service today is a direct result of the lessons of history and a rethinking of the efficacy of volunteerism in fighting fires.  

Genres: History

260 pages, Hardcover

First published January 31, 2011

Reviews

[Ken Schulz · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author does a wonderful job explaining the history of the fire service, it’s beginning in the United Kingdom to the beginning in the United States. The author hits perfectly the science of firefighting, the devastating fires in cities that changed the fire service and the future of the fire service. One of the best books I’ve read!

[Philip McCarty · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wish this book had been a little more focused in it's discussion. The chapters often felt like they were all over the place and at times pretty dry. I found the history aspects of the book very interesting and learning about the tie between the insurance industry and fire prevention. The author of this book has some very strong opinions about the entrenched culture of masculinity and heroism in the fire service. Often times he would make remarks about how the service is unable to change due to the way leadership and the public view the role of firefighters in society. Overall the book felt like it ran a little long for what it was covering and I felt like topics were retread to the point of tedium at times.

[Tyler Budke · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is pretty good, but it does repeat itself at times. It's a good overview of the history of the fire service. I definitely learned some things and it interested me in learning more about the history. The author has man opinions and those come through pretty strongly throughout which is a little annoying at times, overall in glad that I read the book.

[Jeff Carpenter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent! Very extensive history of the fire service with ideas for future improvements of same. Very readable and concise for the sheer amount of information this volume contains.

[Genie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really interesting book on how the fire service in the U.S. Developed- mainly from Great Britain and then was so influenced by the insurance industry. Covers fire fighter culture, development of technology over and the fact that there are fewer fires today, but those that do,occur are more serious. One result- firefighters do not get much ongoing training on fighting fires. Intertwined with the history of cities and of the urban workforce.

[JT Lindquist · Rating 2 out of 5]

Did very well to place firefighters and departments into the greater context of fire and loss prevention efforts over the course of American history. At times repetitive and even seemed preachy, although I agreed with most all of the conclusions that seemed to be made. Did not spend the time reporting on great fires and firefighting efforts that I expected after reading the synopsis.