214 – Peoria Fire Training Academy
January 7th, 2008
Vonster: Practice tank car at the PFD training center on Galena Rd.
A funny anecdote about Peoria’s volunteer fire department of the mid 1800’s:
As the City grew and changed, so did the volunteer companies. Some members were becoming increasingly unruly and more difficult for City officials to control. To insure rapid responses to fire alarms, the City decided to give the first company on the scene of a fire five dollars for throwing water on the flames. This caused fierce competition, and fire companies used any means possible to be the first crew on the scene, including fist fights and sabotage of a rival engine company’s supply hose.
You can read more history on the City of Peoria’s website.
