Everyone loves a good story, and much of the modern literature on American fire marks—lead or copper signs that during the 18th through early 20th centuries were affixed to the exterior of buildings and embossed with the logo of the owner's insurance carrier, with the purpose of letting fire brigades know who the insurer was—contains one or more of the following inaccuracies to enliven the story:

•  The local volunteer fire company would not fight a fire unless there was a fire mark on the burning building. 

• The volunteer fire company received a reward from the insurance company whose fire mark was on the burning building.

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