Generalna skupština Marylanda službeno je osnovala grad Baltimore 1729. s prvom općinskom uredbom o požarima koja je stupila na snagu 1747. godine. Urbani rast do 1800’ naveo je lokalne tvrtke i političke vođe da osnuju dobrovoljna vatrogasna društva kako bi se zaštitili od gubitaka. Ogorčenost konkurencije između ovih tvrtki navela je lokalne vatrogasne zapovjednike da organiziraju Baltimoresku udrugu vatrogasaca kako bi poboljšali javni imidž vatrogasne službe. Godine 1858., kada ta inicijativa nije uspjela uvesti red, gradski političari raspustili su dobrovoljce i predstavili profesionalnu vatrogasnu postrojbu grada Baltimorea od 153 člana. Slično drugim brzorastućim gradovima diljem zemlje, urbana gustoća sa širenjem tvornica, lučkih objekata, skladišta i stambenih zgrada, stvorila je potencijal za opasnost. Godine 1904. Veliki požar u Baltimoreu gorio je više od cijelog dana i uništio 70 blokova i 1526 zgrada u središtu grada. Taj je incident doveo do sustavnih programa urbane obnove i jedinstvenih nacionalnih standarda u vatrogasnoj opremi i protokolima.
The Maryland General Assembly officially established the city of Baltimore in 1729, with the first municipal fire ordinance put into effect in 1747. Urban growth by the 1800s prompted local businesses and political leaders to form volunteer fire companies to protect themselves from losses. Growing resentment and competition among these companies led local fire chiefs to organize the Baltimore Association of Firefighters in order to improve the public image of the fire service. In 1858, when this initiative failed to bring order, city politicians disbanded the volunteers and introduced a professional Baltimore City fire department consisting of 153 members. Similar to other rapidly growing cities across the country, urban density combined with the expansion of factories, port facilities, warehouses, and residential buildings created significant fire hazards. In 1904, the Great Baltimore Fire burned for more than an entire day and destroyed 70 blocks and 1,526 buildings in the downtown area. This incident led to systematic urban renewal programs and the establishment of unified national standards in firefighting equipment and protocols.
