Louis Behrens

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Louis Behrens
Louis Behrens in 1907.jpg
Louis Behrens in 1907
Born
DiedOctober 12, 1932(1932-10-12) (aged 72)
NationalityAmerican
Occupationfirefighter
Known forThe longest serving fire chief in US history

Louis Behrens was the Chief of the fire department of Charleston, South Carolina for 25 years. [1] He worked for the department for 58 years. [2] [3] [4]

Behrens grew up in Charleston, and grew up to become a cabinet maker. [5] His uncle had been a firefighter and had died fighting fires when Union forces bombarded Charleston during the Civil War.

Behrens had a training assignment with the Fire Department of New York. [5]

Legacy

Charleston named a fireboat after Behrens in 2012. [2] [6]

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References

  1. "Leadership: The vacancy at Charleston". Fire Engineering magazine . Vol. 41, no. 1. 1907-01-05. Retrieved 2020-08-04. The position of chief of the fire department of Charleston. S. C., having become vacant, owing to the sudden and lamented death of the late O. G. Marjenhoflf. it seems the universal opinion that Assistant Chief Louis Behrens will be his successor. He is a thorough fireman and is well known to the members of the New York city firemen with whom he spent a month, when he was attached to one of the hardest stations on the lower East Side of Manhattan, during the time that he was sent up to this city to be instructed in fire drill and to be thoroughly posted in all the methods to be followed in a high-grade fire department.
  2. 1 2 "Marine Team". City of Charleston, South Carolina . Retrieved 2020-08-04. Charleston Fire Department operates one Fireboat, Marine 101. The Louis Behrens was named after Chief Louis Behrens, who served as Chief of the Department for 58 years.
  3. "CHIEF LOUIS BEHRENS HONORED ON 50TH YEAR OF ACTIVE SERVICE". Fire Engineering magazine . Vol. 79, no. 12. 1926-06-25. Retrieved 2020-08-04. The veteran chief was the recipient of hundreds of congratulations from Charleston's citizens, and was kept busy all day long responding to personal messages of felicitation and handshakes from his hosts of friends in official and civic circles.
  4. "Leadership: Chief Louis Behrens Dead". Fire Engineering magazine . Vol. 85, no. 11. 1932-11-01. Retrieved 2020-08-04.
  5. 1 2 "LOUIS BEHRENS DIES; A FAMOUS FIREMAN; Charleston (S.C.) Man Had the Longest Service Record of Any Fire Chief in Nation. ONCE ON THE FORCE HERE Friend of Kenlon and "Smoky Joe" Martin a Hero During Earthquake in Southern City in 1886". The New York Times . Charleston, South Carolina. 1932-10-13. p. 20. Retrieved 2020-08-04.
  6. "Charleston receives new fire boatThe boat was named after the longest-serving fire chief, Louis BehrensDec 1". Fire Rescue magazine . 2012-12-01. Retrieved 2020-08-04. The "Louis Behrens" boat was named after the longest serving Fire Chief in the nation. Behrens, who passed away in 1932, served 58 years as Charleston Fire Chief.