The helmet is now a standard part of the firefighter’s gear. But who came up with this idea, and what did people wear in the past? And which countries were ahead of their time? In this article, I delve into the history of the firefighter’s helmet.
Source: National Museum of American History
The international history of the firefighter’s helmet
Jacobus Turck (New York) was the first person to propose in 1740 that people fighting fires should wear a helmet. At the time, it wasn’t actually a helmet but more of a hat. It featured a narrow brim and was made of leather. Later, Matthew DuBois reinforced it by sewing an iron wire into the brim of the hat, making it more resistant to heat and moisture and less likely to warp.
Henry Gratacap, a volunteer firefighter in New York, developed a model around 1820 that served as the inspiration for the modern firefighter’s helmet (see photo above). Like his predecessor, he used leather, a material he was already familiar with through his experience in luggage manufacturing. He decided to paint the helmets to distinguish firefighters from different departments. It was also an effective way to indicate ranks. For instance, firefighters were given red helmets, chief engineers wore black ones, and white helmets with black rims were designated for fire wardens.
Gratacap further modified the design to make it function more like a helmet. He extended the back to prevent water used by firefighters from running directly off the helmet onto their backs. On top of the helmet, he added a pointed eagle that could be used to break windows. An eagle was chosen because a sculptor had once created a memorial statue featuring an eagle for the grave of a volunteer firefighter. Many years later, the eagle was removed as it proved to be impractical; it often got caught in the debris that firefighters frequently had to navigate through.
The Cairns brothers
While Gratacap was gaining recognition for his shop, where he sold helmets starting in 1836, two brothers also became interested in this trade. Jasper and Henry Cairns worked with metal badges, plates, and buttons, also in New York. In collaboration with Gratacap, they created identification plates for the front of the helmet and helmet holders. In 1850, they added firefighting equipment to their offerings and founded their own company: Cairns & Brother Inc.
When Gratacap retired in 1869, he sold his growing business to the Cairns brothers. Their company was later passed on to the next generation: Edward and Irving Cairns. In 1876, they filed a patent application for the firefighter’s helmet.
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Firefighter helmets in Europe
While firefighter helmets were being developed in America, Europe wasn’t standing still either. During the founding of the Edinburgh Fire Engine Establishment in 1825, James Braidwood insisted that head protection was an essential part of firefighting gear. He also opted for a leather model, but unlike his American counterparts, he placed a crest on top of the helmet. Over time, these helmets were adopted by several fire departments in England.
Captain Massey Shaw, who succeeded James Braidwood, aimed to improve the helmet in 1866. He traveled across Europe for inspiration and decided to develop a model made of brass, a material also used by the French for their firefighter helmets. Gradually, this type of helmet was adopted by several European countries.
At the beginning of the 20th century, as more electrical wires were installed, brass helmets had to be phased out. Brass posed a significant risk when coming into contact with electricity, potentially causing severe injury or even death. The new helmets were made of rubber or cork and were often painted yellow to ensure firefighters were easily visible.
New materials and attachments
At the American company Cairns & Brother Inc., it was discovered that other materials might provide better protection. In 1920, leather was replaced with aluminum, and more diverse models were introduced. By the 1940s and 1950s, a special structure was added to helmets to enhance head protection. In 1962, helmets made from polycarbonate were introduced, a material now widely used in safety shoes as an alternative to steel toes.
In Europe, aluminum helmets were eventually adopted as well, though this didn’t happen until the 1950s. France was the first country to use this material in firefighter helmets. In 1985, the Jet Style helmet was introduced, a model that protected the head, ears, and face. Made of heat-resistant thermoplastic, it quickly gained global popularity.
Modern firefighter helmets
Today, firefighter helmets are manufactured extensively in both Europe and America. Cairns & Brother Inc. was acquired in 2000 by the global company MSA-Mine Safety Application. Despite the acquisition, many fire departments in North America continue to use the traditional leather helmet to this day. These “Leatherheads,” as they are colloquially known, remain an international symbol of organized, civilian firefighting.
Greetings,
Aileen