The fire shed was a public building belonging to the peasant community. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, such structures were usually located in the center of the village or on its outskirts. The shed, 7.6 meters high, was a log cabin measuring 5.7 by 7.5 meters, with a roof of a male and female construction. The fire shed often had a tower with a bell. If there was no tower, a bell for signaling alarms was hung on a pole next to the shed.

Each village had its own set of firefighting equipment, the quantity of which could vary. The shed also stored summer and winter transport vehicles equipped for extinguishing fires. Depending on the season, firefighting tools were placed on a cart or sled. It is known that in the fire shed of the village of Mints, there was a cart with a pump, hoses, buckets, a barrel, and hooks. The fire cart occupied a central place.

Peasants considered fire a serious disaster and fought it not only with tools but also with divine help. In the villages, the icon of "The Burning Bush" was revered, which was considered a protector against fires. Its feast day was celebrated on September 17. The icon was present in almost every home, and there are records that it was also in the fire shed.

To prevent fires, the peasant community organized night watch duties. The resident on duty would patrol the village with a club and signal alarms. Participation in extinguishing fires was mandatory for all adult residents. Each house had a barrel of water or sand, and the owner had their own equipment: buckets, axes, hooks. Houses displayed boards with images of the items the owner was supposed to bring to the fire. Firefighting equipment was used only for extinguishing fires and was not applied for household needs. It always had to be in working order, the pump was covered to protect it from dust, and the shed itself was kept clean. Barrels were always filled with water, except during frosts when the shed was not heated. The presence of a fire shed with a night watch ensured timely warning and extinguishing of fires in the village.