"[In this book] I have tried to show the operations of the Lancaster firemen as they compared with their contemporaries of other communities. Some previous writings have made reference to fights between Lancaster companies. However, no specifics have been given, except the strike by volunteers in the early 1880's. The volunteers wanted more operating funds and decided not to respond to fires when their requests were denied. I don't question that there was some hoseplay and perhaps some spirited rivalry between companies. However, I could find no specific incidents of violence between firemen. The Union firemen were inclined to pout over any question of their being the first company in the borough...And, the formation of the Shiffler Fire Company got off to a rocky start. However, Lancaster's volunteer fire companies seem to have been a closely-knit department (with the exception of Union) right up to the institution of the paid fire department in 1882." [A Note from the author]
