Interesting facts about Fire Fighting

 Fire in London: This engraving was published as Plate 35 of Microcosm of London (1808)

• Aside from the well known "Great Fire of London" in 1666, the was also "Great fires of London" in 798, 982, 989 and 1212
•  The first Roman fire brigade of which we have any substantial history was created by Marcus Licinius Crassus in c.90BC
• In 1672, Dutch artist,and inventor Jan Van der Heyden's workshop developed the fire hose. Constructed of flexible leather and coupled every 50 feet (15 m) with brass fittings
• The first real Fire Appliance was invented by John Lofting (1659–1742) who had worked with Jan Van der Heyden in Amsterdam. Lofting moved to London in or about 1688, became an English citizen and patented (patent number 263/1690) the "Sucking Worm Engine" in 1690. There was a glowing description of the firefighting ability of his device in The London Gazette of 17 March 1691