The first insurance companies that were formed in the 1700s relied upon volunteer fire companies to put out fires in the homes or businesses of there insured. The first marks they insured were used to discourage malicious arson by showing that the owner would not greatly suffer if the building were destroyed and to guarantee fire brigades that the insurance company which insured the building in question would reward them for extinguishing the blaze. Fire Mark designs ranged from the very simple- just the company's name -to the very elaborate. Pictured are replicas of the better know fire marks and their known history.