Vintage Films of the Horse Drawn Era of Firefighting

The fire horse served only about a half century (mid-1800s-1910s) before the introduction of the motorized fire department; however, their introduction heralded the most stirring and romantic time in firefighting history. Click on the following links below for videos (approx. 1-2 minutes each) from the Library of Congress of several late 19th & early 20th century fire departments in action.


1925 run of Washington, D.C.'s last 3 fire horses (Barney, Gene, & Tom) with driver, James Gately
(Courtesy of Hugh Miller Photograph Collection ca.1865-1950, D.C. Public Library) 

Albany, New York 1901

Newark, New Jersey, November 14, 1896 (Video 1)

Newark, New Jersey, November 14, 1896 (Video 2)

Buffalo Fire Department June 1897

Cleveland Fire Department, October 18, 1900

New York City Fire Department Returning from a Fire, May 11, 1903