This fire helmet is from the Grand Rapids Fire Department and was worn by T. Szotko around 1960 to 1980. It is made of red plastic and has a yellow stripe down the middle. There is also a yellow 3 on the front.
Grand Rapids Fire Department The Grand Rapids Fire Department was founded in 1849 after the Wendell residence on Fulton Street and Lafayette Avenue burned down with nearly all its contents. Citizens approached the village council and demanded a fire brigade be established. That fall, Alert Fire Company Number 1 was established with twenty-eight members.
Since 1849, the Grand Rapids Fire Department has grown to include eleven stations with 221 members across the city.