Early Fire Insurance

Mr. Coster decided to 'take fire insurance' and was the first Fredericton citizen, so far as it is known, to take out fire protection by insurance.

Insurance companies played a role in early firefighting. When a person took out fire insurance, a plaque was placed on the house by the particular fire insurance company. If a fire occurred at that house, only the insurance company that sold the fire insurance on that house would extinguish the blaze.

If the firemen were sent to the blaze by an insurance company that had not sold insurance to that home, the house was usually left to burn. In some stories, it is said that the rivalry became so great that, at times, one company's brigade would sabotage the others' equipment going to the fire.

As years went by, people began to frown upon these antics. The different brigades got together and formed one Protective Society for the benefit and safety of all. This was really the beginning of the organized fire forces of Fredericton.