Charleston’s first record of having an official fire fighting team was in 1845. At that time, equipment consisted of a two-hand pump engine that was pulled by the men wherever it was needed. Firemen were called into action via the use of a metal triangle that was struck by a heavy hammer; this hung by the academy building on Quarrier Street. If anyone saw a fire they would run to the headquarters and strike the triangle repeatedly with the hammer. The firemen would go to the fire house, grab the ropes that were attached to the pump wagon, and drag the wagon to the water source, often the river or a well. Climbing onto the wagon, they would pump the water onto the fire.