A fire buff is a person with considerable interest (a
fan) in
fire fighting
Firefighting is the act of extinguishing or preventing the spread of unwanted fires from threatening human lives and destroying property and the environment. A person who engages in firefighting is known as a firefighter.
Firefighters typicall ...
and
emergency services
Emergency services and rescue services are organizations that ensure public safety and health by addressing and resolving different emergencies. Some of these agencies exist solely for addressing certain types of emergencies, while others deal w ...
, while not being an active member of these services. Fire buffs may collect or promote information about the local emergency services, raise money for them, or attend emergencies as bystanders. In the latter case, a fire buff may be considered a nuisance or even a danger to operations by active service members.
[What is a fire buff?](_blank)
- excerpt from Robert W. Masters: "Pictorial History of Firefighting", 1967 Many fire buffs are organized in associations, a small number of which are integrated into auxiliary services for their local fire stations.
Some question role of fire buff
The Boston Globe, June 11, 2005 The term 'fire buff' is said to go back to the beginning of the 20th century, when early fire buffs attended emergencies during winter time wearing fur coats, thus coming to be called "buffalos".
Notable buffs
*Arthur Fiedler
Arthur Fiedler (December 17, 1894 – July 10, 1979) was an American conductor known for his association with both the Boston Symphony and Boston Pops orchestras. With a combination of musicianship and showmanship, he made the Boston Pops one ...
, conductor of the Boston Pops Orchestra
*Arthur "Smokestack" Hardy
Arthur "Smokestack" Hardy (April 2, 1901 – December 4, 1995) was a volunteer fire fighter, photographer, black fire historian and collector of fire memorabilia (fire buff). He was the first African-American firefighter in Baltimore, Maryland. ...
, volunteer fire fighter and black fire historian
*Rube Waddell
George Edward Waddell (October 13, 1876 – April 1, 1914) was an American pitcher in Major League Baseball (MLB). A left-hander, he played for 13 years, with the Louisville Colonels, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Chicago Orphans in the National ...
, baseball player
See also
* Fire photography
Fire photography is the act of taking photographs of firefighting operations. People who practise this form of photography are called fire photographers.
Since fire photography involves being close to dangerous situations, fire photographers mus ...
References
External links
International Fire Buff Associates
{{Emergency-services-stub
Firefighting
Fandom