03/17/2026
Happy Saint Patrick’s Day from DHFD, the Irish have always had close ties to fire service across the United States.
In the 1840s, close to 2 million immigrants from Ireland made their way to America. For many, the only work they could find was dangerous, low paying “service work” with fire and police departments.The Irish gladly took these positions, as it provided a means of income and acceptance into American society. Many historians say that Irish were at the forefront of organized fire and police departments, and that those services wouldn’t be in existence today if not for the Irish.
*Borrowed from City of Davis FD page. Thank you for the history lesson today.
