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St. Augustine Fire Department101 Malaga Street St. Augustine, Florida 32084 |
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History of the St. Augustine Fire Department (SAFD)
The City of St Augustine was founded in 1565, and until the 20th century, the residents of this city were protected primarily by privately owned or volunteer fire brigades.
In 1845, after a Marine Street fire, came the formation of the city’s first volunteer fire department. The St. Augustine Fire Company was organized under the direction of a fire chief and the city authorized the purchase of its first fire engine in 1847 for $450.00. During these days, the city owned horses which pulled the equipment. So, at the sound of the fire alarm, every horse drawn vehicle within hearing distance raced toward the Hypolita Street Fire Station. The City offered a fee of $5.00 to the driver of the horse drawn vehicle whose steed arrived first and was pressed into service.
For the remainding history of the SAFD, click here.
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Through the combined efforts of the City’s Fire and Utility Departments, St. Augustine’s Insurance Rating Service’s (ISO) rating was reduced from a Class 4 to a Class 3, with a Class 1 being the best rating attainable. Less than 3% of all communities nationwide have obtained such a rating.