University of Notre Dame Fire Department

The University of Notre Dame Fire Department (NDFD) was established in the aftermath of the devastating fire of April 23, 1879, during which the University s Main Building and several nearby structures were destroyed. While there was no loss of life from this fire, it took three weeks for the ruins to stop smoldering and the extreme damage required a massive reconstruction effort the following summer in order to save the institution. The fire of 1879 and a later fire that heavily damaged St. Edwards Hall in 1980 both had a significant influence on the formation and evolution of NDFD.As early as 1846, Notre Dame had acquired a fire engine of sorts, which was stored under a shed near the campus dog kennel and various Congregation of Holy Cross Brothers were given assignments as part of the fire company. It is highly doubtful that this fire engine would bear any resemblance to anything we would consider as a fire engine today. It was most likely a pumping mechanism for a firefighting water supply from the nearby lakes. At the time, a fire company member s main duties were to procure buckets, axes and other tools to combat the fire.