Formation of Voluntary Fire Brigades in the communes of Skotniki and Kościelnica in 1918

Abstract

The article describes stages in the formation of voluntary fire brigades on the territory of former communes of Skotniki and Kościelnica in 1918. Examples of localities where such fire brigades were organized are Czepów, Wilamów, Orzeszków, Ostrowsko and Wielenin. The managing body of the joint Czepów-Wilamów unit was almost entirely composed of Czepów residents. When this fire brigade was divided into two units, the firemen from Wilamów joined the National Fire-Fighting System. As the centenary of the existence of these fire brigades is approaching, it is worthwhile to remind their organizational beginnings, which took place at the time of re-creating Polish statehood after a long period of partitions.