Shortly after Jan van Riebeeck arrived in 1652 he banned fires or torches in the guardhouse and surrounding grounds.
In 1658 the burning of dry grass, reeds and shrubs was forbidden within the confines of the settlement. In 1661 construction of chimneys in timber lean-to’s was prohibited.

After Simon van der Stel became Governor he founded the “Rattle Watch” fire patrol consisting of 10 burghers and a drummer, who patrolled the streets every half hour from 6:30 pm till dawn. In 1722 it was ordered that in case of a fire two shots were to be fired from the Castle, and a red flag hoisted by day, or two lighted lanterns after dark. Townsfolk was duty bound to alert neighbours by shouting “fire”.
In 1736 there were some 200 houses in Cape Town, and in that year a fire which broke out near the Castle destroyed five houses and resulted in the first “fire engine” to be sent to the settlement the following year.

It is thought likely that this original fire engine may be one of two “pressure engines” which the public may examine even today in the Stellenbosch Museum, testifying of the stoutness of the machine, which could be hand lifted or pulled along on wheels. It had about 50 feet of canvas hose and pressure was obtained by depressing and lifting handle bars.

The same year Van der Stel proclaimed building safety regulations for houses, barns and kraals. Other regulations later followed regarding storage of wood, while inhabitants building new homes were encouraged to use tiles instead of thatch, and smoking in the streets were declared punishable by public lashings. Fire hoses, buckets, ladders, fire hooks and tarpaulins were kept at various points in the township, but the main store was a building adjoining the original Burgher Watch and Council House facing what is today known as Green Market Square. The building, which was later rebuilt, is the Old Town House we know today.

The store is regarded as having been the town’s first fire station, with keys held by the night watchman, the fire masters and other supervisors to ensure that gates were unlocked without delay when an alarm was sounded.
Fire fighting was made the responsibility of the Burgher Senate in 1796 through to its abolition in 1828, when the Colonial Government took over. Finally, on March 3, 1840, the Municipality of Cape Town was established, whereupon the Board of Commissioners and Ward masters assumed duties as the local authority and was entrusted with the organization and maintenance of a fire brigade.

Earliest preserved documentation concerning the brigade dates back to 1845, which was when the Ward masters decided to invite applications for the post of Superintendent of Fire Engines, and to call for tenders for the supply of new hoses and for the upgrading of the existing four Dutch engines and other equipment.
 
One Jakob van Reenen was appointed to this post in June 16, 1845, but was removed from office on July 23 amid a rumpus over a big fire in Strand Street nine days earlier in which the brigade became the butt of criticism over alleged poor performance. Fresh applications were invited, and on August 13, 1845 James Halkett was appointed as Superintendent of Fire Engines, and took command of the fire fighting force made up largely of Malay members.

This date is accepted as the date of inauguration of the Cape Town Municipal Fire Service.