{"id":8807,"date":"2023-11-12T19:40:20","date_gmt":"2023-11-12T18:40:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.learnancientrome.com\/?p=8807"},"modified":"2023-11-12T19:40:20","modified_gmt":"2023-11-12T18:40:20","slug":"when-were-fire-engines-invented-in-ancient-rome","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.learnancientrome.com\/when-were-fire-engines-invented-in-ancient-rome\/","title":{"rendered":"When Were Fire Engines Invented In Ancient Rome"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The history of fire engines dates back to ancient Rome when the first attempt to contain fires was made. Since then, firefighting techniques have evolved, but the main purpose of fire engines has stayed the same – to fight fires and save lives. Despite the fact that there is some debate around the exact time when fire engines were first invented in ancient Rome, it is generally agreed that they existed some time in the first century A.D. The oldest surviving description of fire-fighting techniques are found in the writings by Pliny the Elder and Marcus Vitruvius Pollio.<\/p>\n

In the writings of Pliny, he describes a device known as a ‘squirt’ – a two-wheeled vehicle with water hoses which was used for firefighting. This was likely the first example of a fire engine in ancient Rome. Marcus Vitruvius Pollio also wrote about fire engines, describing the most common design as having two wheels, equipped with a pump and a hose. This engine was to be pulled by several horses and could carry a large amount of water.<\/p>\n

The fire engines of ancient Rome were designed to be as efficient as possible in fighting fires. They used a system known as ‘pulse and flow,’ which involved pumping the water from a reservoir or cistern, and then allowing it to flow into the hose. The pump would then restart the process. This system allowed for large amounts of water to be pumped at a fast rate, allowing fires to be quickly contained.<\/p>\n

Apart from their design, the other thing that made these engines so effective in fighting fires was the discipline of the firefighters. They were well trained and highly organized, with duties clearly delineated. For example, they had one man responsible for starting the pump, another in charge of the flow of water and a third to wind the hose. This allowed them to react quickly to any fire and prevented it from spreading.<\/p>\n