Tuesday Jan 20, 2026

First Volunteer Fire Company

Former volunteer firefighter Marisa Magnatta is joined by Jason Patton, a 15-year firefighter/paramedic and the creator behind @firedepartmentchronicles. Together, they explore how 1730 Philadelphia, built almost entirely of wood and vulnerable to fires, forced Philadelphians to invent something radical: a volunteer fire company that protected everyone. Along the way, we uncover how Philadelphia set the tone for how communities come together to respond to crises.