Artifact Brings Tolland Residents Back To The 'Bucket Brigade' Days

TOLLAND, CT — A new artifact on display in Tolland brings residents back to days of the "bucket brigade" method of fighting fires.

Town resident Spencer Frazee recently donated a vintage leather bucket to the Tolland Fire Department.

According to TFD historians, buckets in the fire service were used as extinguishers during the early days of firefighting, going back as far as the 17th century — and sometimes even earlier.

Tolland residents used buckets to extinguish fires prior to the Tolland Fire Department being organized in 1927. The lines through which the water receptacles were moved were known as "Bucket Brigades."

Buckets were used in the Tolland Fire Department up until mechanical fire apparatus with pumps and hoses were acquired.

The bucket will be on display at the Tolland Fire Department Training Center along with other TFD historic artifacts.