A Brief History

Salamander, the National Fire Protection Engineering Honorary Society, was founded in 1922 at the Illinois Institute of Technology. Dedicated to the promotion and recognition of scholarship, the promotion of original investigation, and the objectives of fraternal association within the profession, the Beta Chapter was initiated at the University of Maryland in 1967.

The Salamander Fraternity provides for three classes of membership, consisting of active, alumni, and honorary members. The active members are selected from the students enrolled in the Department of Fire Protection Engineering. These members automatically obtain alumni membership upon graduation. Honorary membership is bestowed on individuals who have distinguished themselves in the discipline of Fire Protection Engineering.

Salamander is a unique fraternity because its alumni members maintain a high degree of contact and communication with each other. Once a year, the Beta Chapter presents the Robert J. Taylor Award to the outstanding junior in the Department of Fire Protection Engineering.