D.C. Fire Dept. Celebrates 150 Years of Service with Historic Parade (photos)


The District of Columbia Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department celebrated its 150th Anniversary with a historic parade down Constitution Avenue in Washington D.C. on Saturday, May 14. It was the first time in 25 years that firefighters held a parade in the District.

The 150th Anniversary Parade started at 11 a.m. and lasted about an hour moving west on Constitution Avenue from 7th to 14th streets Northwest.  It was led by the D.C. Fire Department Pipes and Drums followed by recruits and cadets carrying 102 District flags representing the 101 District firefighters who sacrficed their lives in the line of duty since the department’s founding, plus an additional flag for the undocumented firefighters and volunteers lost before 1871, when communities such as the City of Georgetown and Anacostia had their own independent fire departments.

Partners from the District Department of Transportation, as well as fire and EMS agencies outside the city that are in the Washington, D.C., region participated. “It’s bringing all of our regional partners together, people from inside the city, outside the city that really support us on a daily basis,” said Anthony Kelleher, Deputy Fire Chief of the DC Fire and EMS Department.

Following the parade, modern and antique fire fighting equipment remained on display in an “aparatus muster” on Pennsylvania Avenue where visitors could get a close-hand look. Among the items were relics such as a 1905 horse drawn steam fire engine. Also a piece of equipment that was hand-pulled over the streets of Frederick, Maryland, from 1893 to 1929.

“We’re celebrating 150 years of service that the Fire Department of the District of Columbia has provided to this community” said Fire Dept. information officer Vito Massiolo. “We look forward to 150 years more.”

View a slideshow of Jeff Malet’s photos of the parade by clicking on any of the photo icons below.

 

 

 

 

 

tags

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *