Copenhagen got its first proper fire brigade on 9th July 1687 when King Christian V established the Copenhagen Royal Fire Brigade by setting up an “Executive Commission for the fire, lighting and watchman network”, which was tasked with organising and leading the organisational aspects of the new corps. Previously, all residents were obliged to participate in extinguishment and rescue work.
With the passing of the Copenhagen Fire Act on 18 May 1868, Copenhagen Fire Brigade was created as a municipal institution on 1 August 1870.
Thus, Copenhagen Fire Brigade can draw on more than 120 years’ experience in fire fighting and rescue tasks in Copenhagen Municipality.
Up until the Danish Act of Rescue and Preparedness entered into force on 1 January 1993, fire brigades in Denmark came under the Danish Ministry of Justice and after that under the Ministry of the Interior. Today the fire brigades come under the Danish Ministry of the Defence.
In the first decades after 1870, the tasks of Copenhagen Fire Brigade were partly to perform fire prevention tasks and partly to take care of fire extinguishment in the municipality.
Gradually, in tandem with the growth of society – and, certainly as a result of residents’ expectations of the “emergency services” in connection with accidents, sudden illness over the years – Copenhagen Fire Brigade’s tasks have been extended to include the Ambulance Service (1898), Transportation of Patients (1974), Helmeted Fireman Service (1930), the Pioneer Service (1965) and, more recently, Civil Contingency Planning (1998).
If you are visiting Copenhagen, and you are interested in history, a visit to the Copenhagen Fire Brigade Museum at Dæmningen station in Valby would be a good idea.