The current fire engine simply has “Columbia” painted on the front — a nod to the company’s roots, which trace back to the volunteer Columbia Fire Company, which was created in 1804. And the fire company’s history is intertwined with American history.

“During the War of 1812, when the British attacked the capital, they actually burned our first firehouse down first, before they started burning the capital down,” said veteran firefighter Margie Dickey, who’s spent her entire career at Engine 3. “So if you take the firehouse out of the picture you have more success with your other endeavors.”

“The volunteer firefighters begged the British not to burn the firehouse down because it didn’t belong to the government. It was privately owned,” Embrey added. “But the British said ‘Maybe so, but it’s on government property, so it’s gone.’”