Firehouse Dalmatian - Paoli, OK
Posted by: 
hamquilter
N 34° 49.545 W 097° 15.619
14S E 659093 N 3855099
What would you expect to see in front of a firehouse, but a Dalmatian!
Waymark Code: WM105C0
Location: Oklahoma, United States
Date Posted: 03/01/2019
Views: 6
The Paoli Fire Department is located at the corner of W. Davis Avenue and S. West Street in a metal building. This is a volunteer fire department servicing the town of Paoli and surrounding countryside. In front of the building is a three foot cube of native sandstone on which is a concrete statue of a Dalmatian. The plaque on the base appears to be referring to the construction of the building and not the statue. We got to wondering about why dalmatian dogs are always associated with firehouses. Found this interesting article from LiveScience.com
"The tradition of Dalmatians in firehouses dates back more than a century. Nowadays they mainly serve as mascots, but before fire trucks had engines, Dalmatians played a vital role every time firefighters raced to a blaze.
"It all dates back to when people used horse-drawn carriages. People realized that Dalmatians would run alongside horses, keeping pace even when sprinting long distances. The dogs would even defend the horses from other dogs or animals that could spook or attack the horses during the ride.
"Dalmatians often ran in pairs, with one on either side of the coach, or close behind the horses. English aristocrats during the early 1700s were among the first known to use Dalmatians to accompany their carriages. The dogs became a status symbol of sorts; the more Dalmatians you had running beside your coach represented your social standing. The use of Dalmatians carried over to the horse-drawn wagons that firefighters rode to the scene of a fire.
"When a fire alarm sounded, the Dalmatians would run out of the firehouse, barking to let bystanders know that they should get out of the way because the firefighters' wagon would soon come roaring by. Once the wagon was out on the street, the Dalmatians would run beside it.
"The brave, loyal dogs also served an important purpose once the wagon approached a fire. Horses are afraid of fire, and the Dalmatians' presence could distract and comfort the horses as they pulled the wagon closer to a blaze. The Dalmatians also stood guard near the wagon to ensure that no one stole the firefighter's belongings, equipment or horses.
"You would think that with the invention of the automobile, Dalmatians would no longer be needed by firemen. Some firehouses, however, have kept the dogs around as friendly companions in order to preserve the tradition. Dalmatians continue to guard firefighters' possessions, but instead of running alongside fire trucks, they ride inside of them. The dogs are also known to catch and kill rats that have taken up residence in firehouses."
[Remy Melina, staff writer for Live Science from 2010 to 2012.]