March 21, 1797, an act was passed by the legislature “for the prevention of fires, and for regulating the assize of bread, in the town of Brooklyn.” This act authorised the inhabitants to choose not less than three nor more than five freeholders, who might from time to time make such prudential by-laws as they judged necessary, for the prevention of fires by the burning of chimneys, and for sweeping and otherwise cleansing the same. The inhabitants accordingly met on the second Tuesday of May, in the same year, and appointed Mess’rs. Henry Stanton, John Doughty, Martin Boerum, John Van Nostrand, and John Fisher, to carry into effect the provisions of the above act. In the execution of which duty the persons so appointed ordained, that from and after the 11th day of July, 1797, a fine of ten shillings should be levied on each person whose chimney should take fire through carelessness, or be set on fire for the purpose of cleansing; and that “all penalties shall be received and recovered by the clerk of the fire company for the time being, if he be one of the persons so chosen; if not, the said persons elected shall nominate and appoint one of their number to serve for and receive in the same manner that the clerk is at present authorised.” From 1798 to August 6, 1806, the sum of £20 7s. was received for chimney fines. For a considerable length of time, this town had but one small fire engine; they subsequently purchased another, which was called No. 2. About 1810, No. 3. now styled the “Franklin,” was purchased by the inhabitants of the Fire District. The Fire Department of the village at present consists of four Fire Engines (of which three are new, namely, Nos. 1, 2, and 4,) and a Hook and Ladder Company, viz. No. 1, “Washington,” full complement 30 men, Foreman, Joshua Sutton. No. 2, “Neptune,” full complement 30 men, Foreman, Gamaliel King. No. 3, “Franklin,” full complement 30 men, Foreman, Jeremiah Wells. No. 4, “Eagle,” full complement 30 men, Foreman, George Fricke. Hook and Ladder Company, full complement 30 men, Foreman, John Smith. There are also in the Navy Yard, two excellent Fire Engines, well manned, and which, together with those from New-York, generously come to our assistance when ever our place is visited by that dreadful calamity, fire. The receipts of the Fire Department, from 1794 to 1815, amounted to £898 10s. 1d. and the expenditures from July 7, 1795, to November 15, 1816, amounted to £964 3s. 3d.