Salvage Corps came into existence in the 19th century. With the growth of cities, fires and insurance,
underwriter
Underwriting (UW) services are provided by some large financial institutions, such as banks, insurance companies and investment houses, whereby they guarantee payment in case of damage or financial loss and accept the financial risk for liabilit ...
s in several cities established fire fighting services to reduce losses. As municipal fire brigades became more competent in the 20th century, the private fire companies cut back their services and emphasised salvaging property after the regular
firemen
A firefighter is a first responder and rescuer extensively trained in firefighting, primarily to extinguish hazardous fires that threaten life, property, and the environment as well as to rescue people and in some cases or jurisdictions also a ...
had done their job.
Most were disbanded in the late 20th century including:
*
Boston Protective Department
The Boston Protective Department was a salvage corps created by insurance companies in Boston, Massachusetts. The department was first organized in 1859 and granted a charter by the Massachusetts legislature in 1874. The department disbanded in 1 ...
(1859–1959)
*
Glasgow Salvage Corps
Glasgow ( ; sco, Glesca or ; gd, Glaschu ) is the most populous city in Scotland and the fourth-most populous city in the United Kingdom, as well as being the 27th largest city by population in Europe. In 2020, it had an estimated popul ...
(Raised: November 1873 – Disbanded: 1 April 1984)
*
Liverpool Salvage Corps
Liverpool Salvage Corps was a service in Liverpool, England, founded and maintained by fire insurers, whose aim was to reduce the loss and damage caused by fires, to help mitigate the effects of fire and of fire-fighting and to salvage both premi ...
(1842–1984)
*
London Salvage Corps
The London Salvage Corps was maintained by the fire offices of London. The corps was first formed in 1865 and began operations in March 1866. It was inspired by the Liverpool Salvage Corps which had been formed in 1842, to reduce the loss and dam ...
(1865–1982)
*
New York Fire Patrol
The New York Fire Patrol (FPNY) was a salvage corps created by the New York Board of Fire Underwriters which operated from 1839 until October 15, 2006. Their original mission was two-fold: to discover fires and to prevent losses to insured prop ...
(1839–2006)
*
Chicago Fire Insurance Patrol
(''City in a Garden''); I Will
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(1857–1959)
*
Underwriters Salvage Corps (Mobile, Alabama)
Salvage Corps came into existence in the 19th century. With the growth of cities, fires and insurance, underwriters in several cities established fire fighting services to reduce losses. As municipal fire brigades became more competent in the 20t ...
*
Underwriters Salvage Corps (Cincinnati, Ohio)
The Underwriter's Salvage Corps in Cincinnati, Ohio was created and operated by the Underwriters Association, a syndicate of Cincinnati-based fire insurance companies, for the purpose of reducing financial losses to their companies from claims d ...
*
Underwriters Salvage Corps (St Louis, Missouri)
The Underwriters Salvation Corps of St Louis was created in May 1874 to reduce the loss of property in fires. It was one of several Salvage Corps that formed in the 19th century to deal with fire in growing cities. Members would be part of Fire Pat ...
(1873–1955)
*Underwriters Fire Patrol (San Francisco, California) (1875–1943)
As of August 1995, the
Bombay Fire Salvage Corps
Mumbai (, ; also known as Bombay — the official name until 1995) is the capital city of the Indian state of Maharashtra and the ''de facto'' financial centre of India. According to the United Nations, as of 2018, Mumbai is the second-m ...
were still in business.
Bombay Fire Salvage Corps
References
''While the flames raged'', by Emmons E. Douglass
{{reflist
History of firefighting
Fire departments
Salvage corps