Bridgeport Fire Department Bridgeport Fire Department The Bridgeport Fire Department provides fire protection and emergency medical services to the city of Bridgeport, Connecticut. Tracing its roots to 1796, the Bridgeport Fire Department protects Connecticut's largest city. Bridgeport's first step toward independence occurred when the Corporation of Newfield was formed in 1797 for the express purpose of forming a fire company. Through the years, the firefighters have continued to play a significant role in Bridgeport's history. In the mid-1800s, Bridgeport's first volunteer fire brigade hand pump was located at the foot of Wall St. near Water St., then was moved to Water St. and
History of Bridgeport, Connecticut City Hall (now McLevy Hall), at the corner of State and Broad streets. Not only was the largest room in the city packed, but a crowd formed outside made up of people who could not get in. He received a standing ovation before taking the 9:07 p.m. train that night back to Manhattan. A plaque now stands at the site in Bridgeport where he gave the speech. Other notables who gave speeches in Bridgeport include Martin Luther King, Jr. who spoke three times at the Klein Auditorium in 1961, 1964 and 1966 and at Central High School in 1962; and