'Two leather Buckets, each containing at least eight quarts...the Buckets to be marked and numbered with the first letter of [the] owner's Christian name, and his surname at length' were required to be located near the main entrance of fire society member's houses and were usually hung in the hall beneath the stairs for quick access. Houses were inspected regularly for violations of these rules and people were fined if their equipment was not in order.

Fire societies were mutual aid societies formed by members trained primarily to assist others in times of fire. Members of fire societies were usually men of means. Members paid dues to the club, had to attend meetings and take active participation when called to duty or risk removal from the society. Communities often supported several fire societies and members joined particular clubs because of political, religious, or business affiliations. Fire societies waned by the 1820s because of the increased presence of fire insurance companies, the boards or founders of which were often comprised of the same individuals as had been members of fire societies. See Cushing, 'Fire Societies,' in The New England Gallaxy IV, no. 1 (summer 1962):10-20.