-- FIRE FIGHTER HISTORY --

The Maltese Cross

During the middle ages a
courageous band of crusaders, the Knights of St. John, fought for possession of the holy land. As they battled the Saracens they encountered a weapon not known to European warriors. This simple, yet horrible, device of war brought excruciating pain and agonizing death upon the crusaders. The Saracens' weapon was fire.

When the crusaders advanced on the walls of the city, they were hit with glass bombs containing naphtha. Once the crusaders were soaked with the flammable liquid, the Saracens would throw a flaming torch in the midst of the warriors. Hundreds of knights were burned to death, however, others risked their lives to save their brothers-in-arms from dying painful deaths.

The warriors became our first firefighters and the first in a long list of courageous firefighters. The heroic efforts of these knights were recognized by their fellow crusaders. Each hero was awarded a badge of honor, a cross, similar to the cross worn by firefighters today. The Knights of St. John lived for close to 400 years on a little island in the Mediterranean Sea named Malta. The cross awarded to the knights became known as the Maltese Cross.

The Dalmatian's

love of horses gave them their name "Carriage Dog". Their skill and agility at running between the wheels of carriages and horses hoofs and their amazing stamina made them ideal for running along with a coach. They guided the horses through the streets and helped to protect the occupants of the carriage from highwaymen.

The ability to run with the horse and carriage is why the Dalmatian was used with the old horse drawn fire carriages. Dalmatians would easily guide the firefighters through the streets. Dalmatians also, it was observed, form very tight bonds with horses.

Though the horse drawn fire engines are long gone, the Dalmatian has remained as the mascot of the fire service. Despite popular belief to the contrary, Dalmatians can not see through smoke and do not like the color red. Dalmatians were simply used as a useful tool for guiding the carriages.

Chaplains

The Council of Ratisbon in 742 officially approved the use of chaplains, primarily for the military. It is important to note that the council specifically prohibited the chaplains (as “servants of God”) from fighting or bearing weapons.

The origin of the term chaplain dates back to St. Martin of Tours in the fourth century. A soldier in the Roman army, he gave his cloak to a cold beggar. That night, a vision of Christ wearing the cloak appeared to him. He became a fervent Christian. His cloak was preserved as a relic by the kings of France who carried it into battle. Capa is Latin for “cape” or “cloak.” The tent in the field where the cloak was enshrined was known as a capella. The priest-custodians of the relic were known as capellani, a name applied over time to all ministers in the military. Capellani evolved into the word chaplain.
 

PFDM History

In 2000, Chaplain Kyle was serving as a Youth Pastor in Phoenix, Arizona when he was challenged, along with the dozens of other Pastors, to become more involved in his community. Since Chaplain Kyle had studied to become a firefighter right after high school, he looked for a way to become involved in the local fire service. He was unable to find a way to become involved and so he continued to serve within the Church. Then, after 9-11, Chaplain Kyle felt he had to become involved in his community, and eventually ended up with the City of Glendale Fire Department’s Crisis Response Team. While volunteering there, Chaplain Kyle was offered a position as the Chaplain for the City of Peoria Fire Department. So, in 2004, Chaplain Kyle accepted the job of serving the firefighters and citizens of the City of Peoria.

Though he was still serving in the Church, Chaplain Kyle found that serving as a Chaplain was where his heart and call were. In 2005, Chaplain Kyle left his last “official” Church assignment and the Chaplaincy became his primary ministry assignment. (Although, Chaplain Kyle still volunteers at Maryvale Church of the Nazarene.)

In, 2006, Chaplain Kyle began to feel the need to fund the Chaplaincy ministry, and so Peoria Fire Department Ministries was born. Peoria Fire Department Ministries exists to minister to the Members of the City of Peoria Fire Department, and to serve the Citizens of the City of Peoria in their hour of most desperate need. Peoria Fire Department Ministries is still in its infant stage. Eventually, however, we hope that the non-profit will be able to fund 4 full-time Chaplains and provide financial assistance to citizens in need.