Amazing historic footage and facts take you on a journey not often told; the evolution of firefighting.

Machines started to appear in colonial days when houses were built of timber with wood shake roofs. They were hand cranked and dragged by hand; not a very efficient way to douse flames.

Steam engines then made their appearance in England and quickly migrated to America. As with any new technology, the firefighters resisted, and fist fights broke out while structures burned.

By the late 1800s, steam engines not only harnessed their power to propel water, but also to drive the actual vehicle. Gasoline then eclipsed steam, and became common by 1915.

Modern chemical foams developed during WWII were introduced, followed by powerful diesel engines in the 1960s which could pump for hours on end. Our cities may not exist without such innovations.