Daily AncestorFire boss
A fire boss inspected a coal mine for explosive or poisonous gas and other dangers, usually going down before each shift to declare it safe.
Coal mines could fill with firedamp, a gas that explodes, and other gases that suffocate. The fire boss was usually the first person into the mine, testing for gas and marking places that were safe or dangerous before the crew went in.
Many states came to require certified fire bosses. In a mining town census the title marks an experienced miner trusted with safety.
As seen in a recordOccupation column of the 1900 to 1940 census
Thos. Evans, 44, Fire boss, Coal mine
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Daily Ancestor. "Fire boss." Dictionary of Old Record Words. https://dailyancestor.com/dictionary/occupations/fire-boss. Last checked 2026-10-01.