Many were old and fires often broke out in them. The city did not have well-organized fire departments.
So when the fire alarm bell rang, men near the sound of the fire bell dropped what they were doing and rushed out to fight the fire.
Later, fire companies were organized with men who were trained to fight fires.
They were not paid to do this. They earned their money at other jobs but dropped what they were doing when the fire bell rang.
In cold weather, many of these young volunteer fire-fighters wore coats made of the skin of buffalo to keep them warm and dry.
Often when the fire bell rang, other men in the city rushed to help put out the fire.
They also wore coats of buffalo skin. In time any man who rushed to fight a fire became known as a fire buff because of the buffalo coat he wore.
Time, however, has a way of bringing changes. Cities organized fire departments.
