The Southport Fire Department was organized following a devastating fire in Southport. As printed in the New York Times on September 30, 1895:
SOUTHPORT, Conn., Sept. 29. - Henshaw's livery stable in Southport was destroyed by fire to-day. Four horses, a large quantity of hay and grain, and a number of carriages were burned. The wire works of the C. L. Jellif Company near by and several small buildings were also destroyed. Loss, $10,000. It is believed the fire was incendiary in origin.
Firemen are going to get killed. When they join the department they face that fact. When a man becomes a fireman his greatest act of bravery has been accomplished. What he does after that is all in the line of work. They were not thinking of getting killed when they went where death lurked. They went there to put the fire out, and got killed. Firefighters do not regard themselves as heroes because they do what the business requires.
Chief Edward F. Croker, FDNY Speaking upon the death of a deputy chief and four firefighters February 1908
