Charlotte Fire Communications "Fire Alarm"

te Fire Department is an Internationally Accredited Agency with 43 fire stations strategically located throughout the City. The various Divisions of the Charlotte Fire Department include: Administration, Operations, Communications, Training, Fire Investigations, Fire Prevention, Fire & Life Safety, Logistics and Emergency Management. How Fire Alarm Began: The pull box alarm was one of the first devices the public could use to alert firemen of an emergency. Prior to the pull box citizens had to run to the town square ring a large bell and continuously yell “fire” until the fire fighters arrived on scene to battle the blaze. In April of 1852, the first practical prototype of the fire telegraphic alarm was developed by two men, Dr. William Channing and Moses G. They acquired a patent in 1854, but it was bought by a man named John Gamewell in 1859. Gamewell now possessing the patents and regional rights to market the fire alarm joined forces with Kennard & Co. and the two began to mass produce the devices and formed the Gamwell Fire Alarm Telegraph Co. Over the next few years Gamewell garnered almost 95% of the pull box alarm market and by 1890 he had systems in 500 cities. The company still exists today and the name has become synonymous with fire protection. By 1911 the count was 48 and over the next 50 years the city would add almost 800 additional units. In 1961 there were 846 functioning alarms; a great number had to be added to service newly annexed areas of Mecklenburg county during the early 1940’s, 50’s and 60’s. With the emergence of the 911 system coupled with the growing abundance of telephones and excess of prank/false calls generated, the late 1970’s saw the removal of the GameWell pull boxes. Charlotte disconnected its boxes on Oct 1, 1979 and they were all completely removed by 1987. There are still some cities like Boston that have kept their master boxes in working order in case of total electrical or wireless failure (since the boxes are telegraph based they do not rely on electricity) Most cities like Charlotte, destroyed them, auctioned them off, or placed them in museums. A lot have ended up in homes of men and women in or associated with the fire service and they have even been turned into street art. NOTE: This website is independently operated and maintained. Any information contained on this site is not endorsed or approved by the Charlotte Fire Department. The views presented do not necessarily represent the views and opinions of the Charlotte Fire Department, City of Charlotte, or its leadership. Questionable, dishonest, or other inappropriate content may be reported to Charlotte Fire Department Administration at 704-336-4174.