Firefighting began to be a focus only with the rise of very large cities such as Rome. Earlier cities, such as those in Mesopotamia or the Indus, likely developed ad hoc firefighting departments and respondent to events. As with other institutions, however, the history of firefighting is complicated and influenced by major technical and social change that occurred in different centuries.
==Early History==__NOTOC__[[File:Firefighters Microcosm edited.jpeg|thumbnail|350px|left|Figure 1. The London Great Fire was a key event that shaped firefighting for the next century and a half. ]]Firefighting began to be a focus only on the rise of huge cities such as Rome. Earlier cities, such as those in Mesopotamia or the Indus, likely developed ad hoc firefighting departments and respondent to events. As with other institutions, however, the history of firefighting is complicated and influenced by the major technical and social change that occurred in different centuries.
====Early History====Early fighting developed in the early urban societies of Egypt, Mesopotamia, and the Indus. Very likely, howeverHowever, these were not dedicated fire departments but rather as a volunteer or paid individuals who would be responsible in for assembling a crew and extinguishing a fire in the city. Few archaeological remains have attested to such firefighters, but laws, such as those from Hammurabi's law code, indicate they existed. There was a law that stated that a firefighter who stole from a burning house that he was responsible for would be punished by death by being thrown into the fire. The law makes it clear though that it is a volunteer that the law applies to. This does not mean there were no paid firefighters but it could mean volunteers may have volunteered because fires gave opportunity for theft.<ref>For more on early laws concerning firefighters, see: VerSteeg, R. (2000). Early Mesopotamian law. Durham, N.C: Carolina Academic Press, pg. 114.</ref>
We don't know the equipment used There was a law that stated that a firefighter who stole from a burning house that he was responsible for would be punished by death by the earliest firefighters, but likely it consisted of buckets, wells to extract water, and perhaps carts to move water to where being thrown into the fire was located. The first documented fire pump dates law makes it clear though that it is a volunteer that the law applies to the 2nd century BCE. This does not mean there were no paid firefighters, where a pump invented by Ctesibius of Alexandria but it could mean volunteers may have been used in putting out volunteered because fires in the city of Alexandriagave an opportunity for theft.<ref>For information about this more on early fire pumplaws concerning firefighters, see: Day, L.VerSteeg, & McNeil, IR. (Eds.2000). (1998)Early Mesopotamian law. Biographical dictionary of the history of technology (1. publ. in paperback)Durham, N. LondonC: RoutledgeCarolina Academic Press, pg. 588114.</ref>
In We don't know the equipment used by the Roman periodearliest firefighters, the city but likely it consisted of Rome grew rapidly buckets, wells to extract water, and began perhaps carts to move water to have problems with major fires. Initially, fires may have been only extinguished in places where homeowners or property owners could pay the price. Negotiation of the price may have occurred while the fire was burning, potentially putting owners in a vulnerable position to being extorted, although evidence for this is not entirely certainlocated. The first dedicated city-based documented fire department was developed, perhaps ironicallypump dates to the 2nd century BCE, where a pump invented by emperor Nero, who was blamed for the great fire Ctesibius of Rome. The firefighting capabilities consisted of men assigned as <i>Vigiles</i>, who also served as Rome's police force, that had access to buckets, pumps, and even equipment to tear down buildings to help break and stop a fire from spreading. The firefighting force patrolled Alexandria may have been used in putting out fires in the streets city of Rome and the fact they were responsible for policing and firefighting indicates that the <i>Vigiles</i> were essentially a protection forceAlexandria.<ref>For more on Nero and his firefighting organizationinformation about this first fire pump, see: AlstonDay, RL., & McNeil, I. (2014Eds.). Aspects (1998). Biographical dictionary of Roman the history, 31 BC-AD 117 of technology (Second edition1. publ. in paperback). London ; New YorkLondon: Routledge, Taylor & Francis Grouppg. 588.</ref>
China, ParthianIn the Roman period, the city of Rome rapidly expanded and Sasanians likely developed similar types of dedicated groups who would be responsible began to respond to events such as a fire have problems with large fires. Initially, fires may have been only extinguished in places where homeowners or property owners could pay the cityprice. Similar to Negotiation of the Roman <i>Vigiles</i>, they price may have patrolled occurred while the streets as watchmen and simply responded to fire events.<ref>As an example of these states' firefightingwas burning, see: Sarkerpotentially putting owners in a vulnerable position to being extorted, K.R. 2003. Public Finance in Ancient India. First edition Editionalthough evidence for this is not entirely certain. Abhinav Publications, India</ref>
==Medieval History The first dedicated city-based fire department was developed, perhaps ironically, by emperor Nero, who was blamed for the great fire of Rome. The firefighting capabilities consisted of men assigned as <i>Vigiles</i>, who also served as Rome's police force, that had access to buckets, pumps, and Early Modern History==even equipment to tear down buildings to help break and stop a fire from spreading. The firefighting force patrolled the streets of Rome, and the fact they were responsible for policing and firefighting indicates that the <i>Vigiles</i> were essentially a protection force.<ref>For more on Nero and his firefighting organization, see: Alston, R. (2014). Aspects of Roman history, 31 BC-AD 117 (Second edition). London ; New York: Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group.</ref>
Technical China, Parthian, and social changes for much of the Medieval period were limited in relation to firefighting. This meant that the concept Sasanians likely developed similar types of using watchmen dedicated groups who would respond and call other watchmen or volunteers be responsible for responding to then respond to the events such as a fire largely persisted in the towns and cities of Europe and other regionscity. Pumps and wagons were sometimes used, but technically these were not much different from ancient periods. Most of these watches were locally administered by neighborhoods or districts in cities. However, in Similar to the 16th centuryRoman <i>Vigiles</i>, with they may have patrolled the increasingly population of cities such streets as Paris, we begin to see more centralized watchmen who were responsible and simply responded to the king and central authorities directlyfire events.<ref>For more on watchmenAs an example of these states' firefighting, see: Johnston Sarker, K.R. A2003. (2011)Public Finance in Ancient India. All things medieval: an encyclopedia of the medieval worldFirst edition Edition. Santa BarbaraAbhinav Publications, Calif: Greenwood, pg. 449.India</ref>
The Great London Fire of 1666 (Figure 1) began to change how fire was perceived. Insurance companies soon began to cover ====Medieval History and insure buildings, which gave them interest in protecting those buildingsEarly Modern History====[[File:Feuerwehrmuseum-Kübelspritze. These insurance companies in London began to organize their own fire brigades, although these firefighters were mostly interested in protecting buildings they insuredjpeg|thumbnail|300px|Figure 2. The led to public markers that indicated which buildings were insured by given companies. However, this system was chaotic and buildings would only be saved by specific insurance companies, leaving others to burn. The insurance companies also realized that it was Improvements in their interest to put out fires pumps in buildings they did not insure, as that could then help to save buildings they did insurethe 17th century helped firefighting efforts. With London's population growing rapidly in the 18th ]]Technical and early 19th centuries, fires became a major problem social changes for the city as they threatened the destruction much of the large city. By around 1700, new pumps Medieval period were developed in France that did help limited about firefighting across urban places such as Paris (Figure 2).<ref>For more on This meant that the Great London Fire concept of using watchmen who would respond and development of firefighting call other volunteers to then respond to the fire largely persisted in the 17th towns and cities of Europe and 18th centuries, see: Gogerly, Lother regions.Pumps and wagons were sometimes used, & Harley, Dbut technically these were not much different from ancient periods. (2003). The Great Fire Neighborhoods or districts locally administered most of London. London: Hodder Waylandthese watches in cities.</ref>
Napoleon may have been However, in the first ruler to develop a public fire brigade that was funded by 16th century, with the state. The first professional firefighters appeared to have been former military personnel. The city increasing population of Cincinnati Ohio was the first city in the United Stated to developed the first public funded fire department. In the United Statescities such as Paris, similar we begin to Britain and other European countries, firefighting was largely privatized and controlled by insurance companies.The London Fire Engine was established in 1833, reflecting the need to centralize firefighting across an increasingly expanding city. However, this was nothing see more than a fire department for insurance company that was only minimally financed by the insurers, where 13 stations serviced the entire city of London. It took 1865 the Metropolitan Fire Brigade Act centralized watchmen who were responsible to finally create a formal fire department in the city that was funded with public money, creating the first official fire department for the cityking and central authorities directly.<ref>For more on firefighting in the 19th centurywatchmen, see: Green-HughesJohnston, ER. A. (19792011). A history All things medieval: an encyclopedia of firefightingthe medieval world. Ashbourne [EngSanta Barbara, Calif: Greenwood, pg.]: Moorland Pub449.</ref>
[[File:Firefighters Microcosm edited.jpeg|thumbnail|The Great London Fire of 1666 (Figure 1) began to change how a fire was perceived. Insurance companies soon began to cover and insure buildings, which gave them an interest in protecting those buildings. The These insurance companies in London Great Fire was a key event began to organize their fire brigades, although these firefighters were mostly interested in protecting buildings they insured. Buildings began to post public markers that shaped firefighting for the next century and a halfindicated which buildings were insured by given companies. ]]
[[File:Feuerwehrmuseum-KübelspritzeHowever, this system was chaotic, and buildings would only be saved by specific insurance companies, leaving others to burn. The insurance companies also realized that it was in their interest to put out fires in buildings they did not insure, as that could then help to save buildings they did insure. With London's population multiplying in the 18th and early 19th centuries, fires became a major problem for the city as they threatened the destruction of the large city.jpeg|thumbnail|By around 1700, new pumps were developed in France that did help firefighting across urban places such as Paris (Figure 2). Improvements in pumps <ref>For more on the Great London Fire and development of firefighting in the 17th century helped firefighting effortsand 18th centuries, see: Gogerly, L., & Harley, D. (2003). The Great Fire of London. London: Hodder Wayland.]]</ref>
==Modern Developments==By Napoleon may have been the 1920s and 1930s, equipment for firefighting began first ruler to become more standardized in countries. Firefighting had developed into develop a full profession with many cities public fire brigade that was funded by now developing their own fire departmentsthe state. In addition The first professional firefighters appeared to greater central organization either run by citieshave been former military personnel, municipalities, or even higher levels of government, fire departments mostly changed in the 20th century and they served as a large number of technologies developed. In the 19th century, water was still brought largely by horse, sometimes by train or boat, to fires. Pump technologies improved first full-time employees in the 19th century, including suction engines, but delivery of water was still not well developed. Only the early 20th century did motorized vehicles began carrying the primary firefighting equipment, leading to the fire engine with the Know Automobile Company often being credited with creating the first modern engine. The innovation city of airplanes led to shortly after Cincinnati, Ohio in 1853 was the use of aircraft to scout and first city in some cases directly aid in firefighting. For fire engines, the aerial platform United Stated to developed by the time of World War II, which shaped first public-funded fire trucks to their modern designdepartment. Throughout In the post-World War II era saw improvements in firefighting equipmentUnited States, including in masks similar to Britain and use of fire retardant that enabled other European countries, firefighting to be improvedwas largely privatized and controlled by insurance companies.<ref>For more on modern fire departments and equipmentThe London Fire Engine was established in 1833, see: Wallington, N. (2008). One hundred years of reflecting the British fire engine. Huddersfield: Jeremy Mills Pubneed to centralize firefighting across an increasingly expanding city.</ref>
==Conclusion==Firefighting has had major developments in the last century. InitiallyHowever, population pressure forced cities in ancient cities to become this was nothing more organized in their efforts to respond to larger fires. In the period after the Great London Fire, than a fire department for insurance companies mostly developed their own or help instigate that were only minimally financed by the need for firefighting groups. Howeverinsurers, by where 13 stations serviced the early 19th century, there was a clear need to coordinate activities between an often fragmented system entire city of fighting fires and London. It took "The 1865 the Metropolitan Fire Brigade Act" to provide clear funding from finally create a formal fire department in the government so city that those without insurance for their buildings could also benefit as well as insured properties. Napoleon likely developed was funded with public money, creating the first professional firefighters with this idea spreading to public fire department for the United States and Great Britain city.<ref>For more on firefighting in the early 19th centuries. Technologies began to rapidly change and by the 20th century, at the time see: Green-Hughes, E. (1979). A history of World War II, fire engines similar to today began to developfirefighting. Ashbourne [Eng.]: Moorland Pub.</ref>
====Modern Developments====By the 1920s and 1930s, equipment for firefighting began to become more standardized in countries. Firefighting had developed into a full profession with many cities by now developing their fire departments. In addition to the greater central organization either run by cities, municipalities, or even higher levels of government, fire departments mostly changed in the 20th century as a large number of technologies developed. In the 19th century, water was still brought largely by horse, sometimes by train or boat, to fires. Pump technologies improved in the 19th century, including suction engines, but the delivery of water was still not well developed. Only by the early 20th century did motorized vehicles begin carrying the primary firefighting equipment, leading to the fire engine with the Know Automobile Company often being credited with creating the first modern engine. The innovation of airplanes led to shortly after the use of aircraft to scout and in some cases directly aid in firefighting. For fire engines, the aerial platform developed by the time of World War II, which shaped firetrucks to their modern design, helping them reach tall buildings with their extended hoses. Throughout the post-World War II era, there were improvements in firefighting equipment, including in masks and use of fire retardant that enabled firefighting to be improved.<ref>For more on modern fire departments and equipment, see: Wallington, N. (2008). One hundred years of the British fire engine. Huddersfield: Jeremy Mills Pub.</ref> ====Conclusion====Firefighting has had major developments in the last century. Initially, population pressure forced cities in ancient cities to become more organized in their efforts to respond to larger fires. In the period after the Great London Fire, insurance companies mostly developed their own or help instigate the need for firefighting groups. However, by the early 19th century, there was a clear need to coordinate activities between an often fragmented system of fighting fires and to provide clear funding from the government so that those without insurance for their buildings could also benefit as well as insured properties. Napoleon likely developed the first professional firefighters with this idea spreading to the United States and Great Britain in the early 19th centuries. Technologies began to change rapidly and by the 20th century, at the time of World War II, fire engines similar to today began to develop. ====References====<references/> Updated December 14, 2018. [[Category:History of Science and Technology]][[Category:Wikis]]
