From earliest days the call of Fire! has attracted fire fighters and onlookers alike. The drama, the danger, the fascination with fire fighting's extraordinary machines and equipment draws the interest of people everywhere. This book provides an in-depth look at those exotic machines, their development and their use to the present day.
The author takes us through the evolution of fire-fighting apparatus in Canada from the introduction of hand-pumped fire engines in the mid-1700s, through the era of horse-drawn and steam-driven fire engines to the multi-purpose, emergency-response vehicles of today. His anecdotal style belies the massive amount of research required to prepare such a chronicle. Baird also incorporates a history of the manufacturing of fire apparatus and of the social outgrowths of fire fighting. The text is accompanied by many fascinating photographs of apparatus both ancient and modern, some rarely seen before.
The author takes us through the evolution of fire-fighting apparatus in Canada from the introduction of hand-pumped fire engines in the mid-1700s, through the era of horse-drawn and steam-driven fire engines to the multi-purpose, emergency-response vehicles of today. His anecdotal style belies the massive amount of research required to prepare such a chronicle. Baird also incorporates a history of the manufacturing of fire apparatus and of the social outgrowths of fire fighting. The text is accompanied by many fascinating photographs of apparatus both ancient and modern, some rarely seen before.
