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You can scroll and read a transcript of the ACT here: DIGITIAL NLS ARCHIVE

On 21 April 1703 in response to the public outcry following fires in the ‘Meal-mercat’ (Meal market) and the ‘Land-mercat’ (Lawnmarket) which nearly destroyed a large part of the city, the Edinburgh City Council approved an act for: ‘Appointing a company for Quenching Fires and rules to be observed by Inhabitants thereanent’. 

The Act laid down several stipulations that had to be adhered to by the citizens and some were actually reinforcing regulations laid down in James I’s 1426 Act which had been allowed to fall by the wayside. 

Each house had to have 2 or 3 ropes, which reached from their windows to the ground plus 4 fathoms (I fathom=6 feet or 10.97 metres) and in a time when nobody had running water, ‘enough water stored for all occasions’.  12 Firemasters would be appointed from amongst the Burgesses and Freemen of the City, and they would each appoint 6 assistants to help them deal with outbreaks of fire. Each assistant would be issued with a leather helmet on which, at the front, would be crossed pewter bars and a number between 1-72. 

300 leather buckets would be provided and stored with the Town Guard (in the Castle) and at the Old Kirk (St Giles). 12 Ladders of 3 differing heights would be provided and hung on the side of the Old Kirk. This was a strengthening and reinforcing of the 1426 Act.

Shades (equipment sheds) were to be created and equipped with 6 shovels, 6 mattocks, some buckets, Stings (long wooden poles carried on the shoulders of 2 men from which was hung a load) like Knogs (small casks or kegs, six of which it was deemed should be kept full of water and attached to a sting) and 24 Sayes (timber water tubs, some on wheels) would be made and kept full of water and positioned at suitable locations. This again was a reinforcing of part of the 1426 Act.  These sheds were to be kept locked and Firemasters were to have a key for access at any time.

All the wells and fire cocks were to be put into good condition and Firemasters were to know how to turn the water onto the cocks and be able to channel the water to either side of the street using a Timber Spout, (a director or divertor) which the Council would have made, and which would be stored in the Equipment Sheds.

The Town Guard were to start a nightly patrol of the city street and on discovering a fire were to ‘proceed with all haste’ to the nearest Firemaster’s house and report the location of the outbreak. To help in this, the patrolling guards carried the names and addresses of all the Firemasters and to further aid them, in these days of very little street lighting, the door or stair entrance of the Firemaster was illuminated and their name was above or on the door. Having reported to the Firemaster the Guard then had to inform the Lord Provost, the Magistrates of the district, the Baillies, the Tron men (Chimney Sweeps) and the Water Carriers (Men who carried water containers on their backs and sold and delivered it to the local populace) who were all charged to report to any fire and render any assistance required.

The Muck men (Gents who collected the dung from the streets and normally took it out to the countryside and sold it to farmers as fertiliser) were directed to report to any fire on hearing the alarm and dump the contents of their creels (mesh and timber baskets carried on their backs) on the fire. 

All equipment etc., was to be marked with the Town Mark and the Dean of Guild and his successors were to ensure it was all kept in good condition and replaced as necessary. Anyone found using, selling, or doing anything with the equipment without permission could be fined or imprisoned. 

This Act remained in force right up to 1824 and only ceased to be used as the creation of the Edinburgh Fire Engine Establishment negated the need for the provisions made in it though James Braidwood reinforced the desire for householders to have ropes to effect self -rescue and water on the premises to attempt to extinguish fires.