A badge or sign identified these buildings. The government was not involved until 1865, when these brigades became London's Metropolitan Fire Brigade. The first modern standards for the operation of a fire department were not established until 1830, in Edinburgh, Scotland. These standards explained, for the first time, what was expected of a good fire department.
After a major fire in Boston in 1631, the first fire regulation in America was established. In 1648 in New Amsterdam (now New York) fire wardens were appointed, thereby establishing the beginnings of the first public fire department in North America. Their personnel are either volunteer (non-salaried) or career (salaried). Typically, volunteer fire fighters are found mainly in smaller communities, career fire fighters in cities. The modern department with salaried personnel and standardized equipment became an integral part of municipal administration only late in the 19th century. In the 1970's, fire departments began to put greater emphasis on preventing fires and educating the public about fire safety. .
In 1974, the United States government established the National Fire Prevention and Control Administration in the Department of Commerce. The agency became the United States Fire Administration (USFA) in 1978 and was transferred to the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The USFA works to improve fire prevention and education, fire fighting technology, and firefighter health and safety. It also operates the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, Maryland. The academy administers training programs for firefighters and others that work in the field of fire prevention and control. Another government agency, the Consumer Product Safety Commission, develops fire safety information for consumers.
During the 1980's and 1990's, fire departments became more involved in providing emergency medical care, highway accident rescue, hazardous materials handling, and other emergency services.
