Misplaced Pages

#639360

69-697: The Army Fire Service ( AFS ), later called the Army Department Fire Service , was the fire service which performed firefighting duties on British Army camps. Its personnel were largely soldiers until 1959, when the fire service was civilianised. Until 1965 it was administratively part of the Royal Army Service Corps but under the McLeod Reorganisation of Army Logistics it was transferred to Royal Army Ordnance Corps sponsorship. Under both corps it

138-418: A fire shelter " and should be "...at least four times the maximum continuous flame height." However this figure only takes into account the effects of radiant heat and does not consider topography nor wind. Safety Zones can be natural features such as rock screes, meadows, and river bars; or human-made features such a parking lots or areas that have been cleared of vegetation through mechanical means. One of

207-534: A statio provisionally identified near the Aemilian Bridge. As mentioned elsewhere detachments of watchmen were stationed at Ostia and Portus and there were sub-stations throughout the city. What arrangements were made for policing the outer suburbs of the city is not known. (Certainly after the governmental reforms of Diocletian the jurisdiction of the Praefectus Urbi extended as far as

276-580: A 10/14 shift, in which the day shift works ten hours and the night shift works 14 hours. Firefighting personnel are split up into alternating shifts. Usually, the 24-hour shifts are followed by two days off. The shift personnel arrive for roll call at a specified time, ready to complete a regular tour of duty. While on shift, the firefighter remains at the fire station unless relieved or assigned other duties. In fire fighting, there are also people designated as fire wardens, also known as chief officers. Their duties vary, some may ensure evacuation of that part of

345-465: A 4% tax on the sale of slaves and used the proceeds to set up the new force. The first units of vigiles were under the command of the aediles and the vicomagistri . There were only 6,000 vigiles and they were all slaves. In 22 AD they were commanded by the praefectus vigilum , who was of equestrian rank, and subpraefectus and were divided into seven cohorts commanded by a tribune . Usually tribunes would begin their career by commanding

414-413: A fire in a cellar or an underground car park with only a few centimeters of visibility may require long reconnaissance to identify the source of the fire. The "reading" of a fire is the analysis by firefighters of indications of thermal events such as flashover , backdraft or smoke explosion . It is performed during reconnaissance and fire suppression maneuvers. The main signs are: Spraying water on

483-430: A fire. Water extinguishes a fire by cooling, which removes heat because of water’s ability to absorb massive amounts of heat as it converts to water vapor . Without heat, the fuel cannot keep the oxidizer from reducing the fuel in order to sustain the fire. Water also extinguishes a fire by smothering it. When water is heated to its boiling point, it converts to water vapor. When this conversion takes place, it dilutes

552-402: A fraction of a second. Additional risks of fire are the obscuring of vision due to smoke, potentially causing a fall or disorientation ; becoming trapped in a fire; and structural collapse . "Three hours of fighting a fire stiffens arteries and impairs cardiac function in firefighters" according to a study by Bo Fernhall, a professor in the department of kinesiology and community health in

621-459: A legal background began serving as Prefect to fulfil the magisterial capacity of the office. As a judge, the Prefect made rulings in his court for the common thieves caught during the night. Eventually, the Prefect was given jurisdiction over daytime petty crimes as well. According to Justinian, in the event of more serious crimes the decision was made by the praefectus urbi , "if the offender

690-412: A low burning fire can be devastating as it will ignite all of the oxygen along the way. It can also be heard from miles away as it has a concussive blast that adds to the effect. Firefighters need to have extreme communication at all times on the fire ground as one broken window at the wrong time could seriously harm anyone operating on the building. Depending on the heat of the fire, burns can occur in

759-425: A minimum of two Fire Wardens per floor. In this example, their duties include investigating any fire alarms (see if there really is a fire and if so, its nature), ensuring the fire department is contacted, directing the evacuation of the facility, activating or delaying activation of fire suppression equipment such as halon and sprinklers (delayed in case of a false alarm), meeting the fire department and taking them to

SECTION 10

#1732798409640

828-495: A naturally occurring element. Occupational exposures to silica dust can cause silicosis , lung cancer, pulmonary tuberculosis, airway diseases, and some additional non-respiratory diseases. Inhalation of asbestos can result in various diseases including asbestosis , lung cancer, and mesothelioma . Sources of metals exposure include burnt or melted electronics, cars, refrigerators, stoves, etc. Fire debris cleanup workers may be exposed to these metals or their combustion products in

897-422: A plan for the building that provides information about structures, firefighter hazards, and in some cases the most appropriate strategies and tactics for fighting a fire in that context. There are four elements needed to start and sustain a fire and/or flame: temperature, a fuel , an oxidizing agent (oxygen), and a chemical reaction. A fire can be extinguished by taking away any of the four components. The fuel

966-485: A popular fire engine that was essentially a rectangular box on wheels filled using a bucket brigade to provide a reservoir while hand-powered pumps supplied sufficient water pressure to douse fires at a distance. Ancient Rome did not have municipal firefighters. Instead, private individuals relied on their slaves or supporters to take action. They would not only form bucket brigades or attempt to smother smaller fires, but would also demolish or raze nearby buildings to slow

1035-559: A time, with two centuries being stationed at each city. During the Great Fire of Rome , the vigiles took to looting the city rather than enforcing law and fighting the fires. The vigiles appear to have lost their status as an independent unit and come under the authority of the Praetorian prefects sometime in the early 3rd century. In the beginning, the corps had difficulty recruiting men. In an effort to entice men to enlist

1104-563: A unit of the Vigiles. Each cohort was divided into seven centuries , each of 70–80 men commanded by a centurion . Each cohort patrolled two of the city's fourteen administrative regiones . The vigiles were made up of freedmen by this time. The cohorts were doubled in size in AD 205. The vigiles also acted as a night watch, keeping an eye out for burglars and hunting down runaway slaves , and were on occasion used to maintain order in

1173-534: Is a common misconception. In 1833 fire insurance companies in London merged to form The London Fire Company Establishment. Steam-powered apparatuses were first introduced in the 1850s, allowing a greater quantity of water to be directed onto a fire; in the early 1930s they were superseded by versions powered by an internal combustion engine. In World War II the Auxiliary Fire Service , and later

1242-504: Is a dangerous profession due to the toxic environment created by combustible materials , with major risks being smoke, oxygen deficiency , elevated temperatures, poisonous atmospheres, and violent air flows. To combat some of these risks, firefighters carry self-contained breathing apparatus . Additional hazards include falls – a constant peril while navigating unfamiliar layouts or confined spaces amid shifting debris under limited visibility – and structural collapse that can exacerbate

1311-547: Is a person of such thuggish and infamous character ... the case is sent on to the prefect of the city". Often times Praefectus Vigilum would go on to be prefects of the Praetorian Guard . Beyond the office of the prefect, the Vigiles were ordered by rank similar to the military. While some terms of service could extend beyond twenty years, most commissioned ranks were much shorter. Since the Vigiles never achieved

1380-534: Is an engineering control that can be used to avoid or minimize exposure to hazardous substances. When ventilation is insufficient or dust cannot be avoided, personal protective equipment such as N95 respirators can be used. The first step in a firefighting operation is reconnaissance to search for the origin of the fire (which may not be obvious for an indoor fire, especially if there are no witnesses), to identify any specific risks, and to detect possible casualties. An outdoor fire may not require reconnaissance, but

1449-604: Is based on the type of fires that the extinguisher is more suitable for. In the United States, the types of fire are described by the National Fire Protection Association . The earliest known firefighters were in the city of Rome. In 60 A.D., emperor Nero established a Corps of Vigils ( Vigiles ) to protect Rome after a disastrous fire. It consisted of 7,000 people equipped with buckets and axes who fought fires and served as police. In

SECTION 20

#1732798409640

1518-514: Is chemical flame inhibition. This can be accomplished by applying dry chemical or halogenated agents that interrupt the chemical chain reaction and stop flaming. This method is effective on gas and liquid fuel because they must have flame to burn. Vigiles Vigiles or more properly the Vigiles Urbani ("watchmen of the City ") or Cohortes Vigilum (" cohorts of the watchmen") were

1587-407: Is the substance being oxidized or burned in the combustion process. The most common fuels contain carbon along with combinations of hydrogen and oxygen. Heat is the energy component of a fire. When it comes into contact with a fuel, it provides the energy necessary for ignition, causes the continuous production and ignition of fuel vapors or gases so that the combustion reaction can continue, and causes

1656-438: Is time to withdraw firefighters from a fire, and react calmly in emergency situations. The chief officer must direct the activities of a fire department and supervise all firefighting activities, requiring extensive knowledge of city layouts, the location of streets, fire hydrants and fire alarm boxes, and the principal buildings. A chief officer must be familiar with sources of fires, including explosives, hazardous chemicals, and

1725-463: The Lex Visellia was passed in 24 AD, granting full citizenship and a bonus cash stipend to Vigiles after six years of service. By the 2nd century, citizens were also allowed to enlist. The Vigiles were accommodated in barracks and patrolled the streets, especially at night, on the lookout for any unsupervised fires. Every householder was obliged to keep equipment for fighting fires, and

1794-778: The London Blitz , 700 fire men and 20 fire women, as known during the time period died as a result of heavy bombing, 91 of these perished at the same time defending London. By the end of the London Blitz, 327 firefighters had lost their lives. In January 1608, a fire destroyed many colonists' provisions and lodgings in Jamestown, Virginia . By the mid-1600s, Boston , New Amsterdam (later New York City ), and Philadelphia were all plagued by fires, and volunteer fire brigades began to form. In 1736, Benjamin Franklin founded

1863-601: The National Fire Service , were established to supplement local fire services. Before 1938, there was no countrywide standard for firefighting terms, procedures, ranks, or equipment (such as hose couplings). In the month of August in 1939 with war looking very possible the Fire Service's act of 1938 came into effect. This unified Great Britain's fire service and prepared them for the German war machine. During

1932-530: The Union Fire Company in Philadelphia, which became the standard for volunteer fire organizations. These firefighters had two critical tools: salvage bags and so-called bed keys. Salvage bags were used to quickly collect and save valuables, and bed keys were used to separate the wooden frame of a bed (often the most valuable item in a home at the time) into pieces for safe and rapid removal from

2001-482: The Via Lata . Every cohort was equipped with standard firefighting equipment. The sipho or fire engine was pulled by horses and consisted of a large double action pump that was partially submerged in a reservoir of water. The Vigiles designated as aquarii needed to have an accurate knowledge of where water was located, and they also formed bucket brigades to bring water to the fire. Attempts were made to smother

2070-502: The firefighters and police of ancient Rome . The triumviri nocturni (meaning three men of the night ) were the first men, being privately owned slaves , organized into a group that combatted the common problems of fire and conflagrations in Rome. Another organization dedicated to fighting fires in ancient Rome was a band of slaves led by the aedile Marcus Egnatius Rufus . The privately operated system became ineffective, so in

2139-414: The 3rd century B.C., an Alexandrian Greek named Ctesibius made a double force pump called a siphona . As water rose in the chamber, it compressed the air inside, which forced the water to eject in a steady stream through a pipe and nozzle. In the 16th century, syringes were also used as firefighting tools, the larger ones being mounted on wheels. Another traditional firefighting method that survived

Army Fire Service - Misplaced Pages Continue

2208-654: The College of Applied Health Sciences, and Gavin Horn, director of research at the Illinois Fire Service Institute. The conditions (observed in healthy male firefighters) are "also apparent found in weightlifters and endurance athletes..." Once extinguished, fire debris cleanup poses several safety and health risks for workers. Many hazardous substances are commonly found in fire debris. Silica can be found in concrete, roofing tiles, or it may be

2277-627: The Urban Cohorts, followed by becoming a centurion in the Praetorian Guard. They would then transfer to the Legions, where they could reach the rank of Primus Pilus . The prefect was also known as the Prefect of the Watch. The prefect was an eques appointed by the emperor to command the seven cohorts. It was not a particularly sought after office until the 3rd century. Prominent jurists with

2346-1209: The air or on their skin. These metals may include beryllium , cadmium , chromium , cobalt , lead , manganese , nickel , and many more. Polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), some of which are carcinogenic, come from the incomplete combustion of organic materials and are often found as a result of structural and wildland fires. Safety hazards of fire cleanup include the risk of reignition of smoldering debris, electrocution from downed or exposed electrical lines or in instances where water has come into contact with electrical equipment. Structures that have been burned may be unstable and at risk of sudden collapse. Standard personal protective equipment for fire cleanup include hard hats , goggles or safety glasses, heavy work gloves, earplugs or other hearing protection , steel-toe boots , and fall protection devices. Hazard controls for electrical injury include assuming all power lines are energized until confirmation they are de-energized, and grounding power lines to guard against electrical feedback, and using appropriate personal protective equipment. Proper respiratory protection can protect against hazardous substances. Proper ventilation of an area

2415-512: The building for which they are responsible; others may be responsible for fire control in a particular area, direct a crew in the suppression of forest fires, or function as fire patrolmen in a logging area. The chief officer is in charge of their firefighters during fires or emergencies, and is expected to command and control the overall situation while effectively combating a fire or other emergency. Chief officers must be able to evaluate their firefighters, use sound judgement when deciding when it

2484-401: The ceiling in short pulses of a diffused spray (e.g., a cone with an opening angle of 60°) can be undertaken to test the heat of smoke: If the temperature is moderate, the water falls down in drops with a sound like rain; if the temperature is high, the water vaporizes with a hiss—the sign of a potentially extremely dangerous impending flashover. Ideally, part of reconnaissance is consulting

2553-498: The city to burn under orders from Nero, who later built his palace on land that was cleared by the fire. Regardless, Nero enacted fire code laws following the Great Fire to avoid further conflagrations. These laws called for more public access to water and prohibited buildings from sharing a common wall. Starting about 27 BC, Augustus added a police function to the Vigiles to counterbalance the urban mobs that had run rampant during

2622-438: The combustion qualities of materials in buildings, homes, and industrial plants . In certain jurisdictions, civilians can get certified to be a Fire Warden, and some cities require certain types of buildings, such as high rises, to have a certain number of Fire Wardens. For example, the city of Houston in the United States requires every tenant in a high-rise to have at least one Fire Warden for every 7500 sq. ft. occupied, and

2691-485: The district or city street system they will have to negotiate in order to perform their duties. They must meet minimum physical fitness standards and learn various firefighting duties within a reasonable period Examples are: Specialized areas of operations may require subject-specific training. Examples are: Full-time career firefighters typically follow a 24-hour shift schedule, although some fire departments work 8- or 12-hour shifts. Australian firefighters work

2760-770: The east coast and for 100 miles (160 km) in every direction. This might suggest that his subordinate, the Praefectus Vigilum , had a commensurate responsibility.) The Vigiles often play a prominent role in the Marcus Didius Falco novels of Lindsey Davis , providing assistance in Falco's investigations. In particular, Falco's old army friend Lucius Petronius Longus is a 'Watch Captain' in Regio XIII. In Death in Vesunna by Harry Turtledove ,

2829-443: The fact that Rome had no fire department, by creating his own brigade—500 men strong—which rushed to burning buildings at the first cry of alarm. Upon arriving at the scene, however, the firefighters did nothing while Crassus offered to buy the burning building from the distressed property owner, at a miserable price. If the owner agreed to sell the property, his men would put out the fire; if the owner refused, then they would simply let

Army Fire Service - Misplaced Pages Continue

2898-417: The fire by covering it with patchwork quilts ( centones ) soaked with water. There is even evidence that chemical firefighting methods were used by throwing a vinegar based substance called acetum into fires. In many cases the best way to prevent the spread of flames was to tear down the burning building with hooks and levers. For fires in multiple story buildings, cushions and mattresses were spread out on

2967-584: The fire. The first American attempt at fire insurance failed after a large fire in Charlestown, Massachusetts in 1736. Later in 1740, Benjamin Franklin organized the Philadelphia Contributionship to provide fire insurance, which was more successful. The Contributionship adopted "fire marks" to easily identify insured buildings. Firefighting started to become formalized with rules for providing buckets, ladders, and hooks, and with

3036-719: The formation of volunteer companies. A chain of command was also established. A firefighter's goals are to save lives, protect property, and protect the environment. A fire can rapidly spread and endanger many lives, but with modern firefighting techniques, catastrophe can often be avoided. To prevent fires from starting, a firefighter's duties may include public education about fire safety and conducting fire inspections of locations to verify their adherence to local fire codes . Firefighting requires technical proficiency of operational tactics, equipment, and scene awareness. Firefighters must also have, or be able to acquire, knowledge of department organizations, operations, and procedures, and

3105-489: The ground for people to jump onto from the upper levels. A major duty of the Vigiles was to enforce preventative measures against conflagrations. Adequate fire fighting equipment was required in every home. The Digest of Justinian decrees that Vigiles are "ordered to remind every one to have a supply of water ready in his upper room". While the Vigiles only had advising authority, their recommendations were often followed to avoid repercussions for negligence. Corporal punishment

3174-477: The holder of this office being given a substantive command outside Rome. Whether or not his force included vigiles from the city is uncertain. Whether or not the Praefectus Vigilum had his headquarters in any of the stationes identified above or whether he had an entirely separate praefectura is not known. If he is associated with one of the barracks it is likely to have been that of I Cohort in

3243-679: The immense heat generated by a fire, even without direct contact with the flames (direct flame impingement), such as conductive heat and radiant heat , can cause serious burns even from great distances. There are a number of comparably serious heat-related risks, such as burns from hot gases (e.g., air), steam, and hot and/or toxic smoke . Prolonged, intense exertion in hot environments also increases firefighters' risk for heat-related illnesses, such as rhabdomyolysis . Accordingly, firefighters are equipped with personal protective equipment (PPE) that includes fire-resistant clothing such as Nomex or polybenzimidazole fiber (PBI) and helmets that limit

3312-429: The interest of keeping himself and Rome safe, Augustus instituted a new public firefighting force called the vigiles . Augustus modelled the new firefighters after the fire brigade of Alexandria, Egypt . The vigiles were also known by their nickname Spartoli or "little bucket fellows", given to them because of the buckets they carried water in, which were made of rope sealed with pitch . In AD 6, Augustus levied

3381-488: The latter days of the Republic. In addition to extinguishing fires, the Vigiles were the nightwatch of Rome. Their duties included apprehending thieves and robbers and capturing runaway slaves. The task of guarding the baths was added as a duty of the Vigiles during the reign of Alexander Severus when the baths remained open during the night. They dealt primarily with petty crimes and looked for disturbances of

3450-505: The location of the alarm or to the fire past any security or locked doors, and, if necessary, fighting the fire until the fire department arrives. The U.S. Forest Service publishes guidelines for the minimum distance a firefighter should be from a flame. As stated in the National Wildfire Coordinating Group's Incident Response Pocket Guide: "A safety zone is an area where a firefighter can survive without

3519-458: The major hazards associated with firefighting operations is the toxic environment created by combusting materials. The four major hazards are: To deal with such hazards, firefighters carry a self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA; an open-circuit positive pressure system) to prevent smoke inhalation. These are not oxygen tanks (oxygen as a powerful fire accelerant would represent a grave risk when combined with virtually anything combustible in

SECTION 50

#1732798409640

3588-409: The men themselves were equipped with pumps, buckets, hooks (for pulling down burning material), picks, mattocks and axes. They also used ballistae for knocking down burning houses and creating firebreaks . They even had their own medical support ( medici ), with four doctors attached to each cohort, and their own chaplains ( victimarii ). A siphonarius operated a pump and an aquarius supervised

3657-402: The mid-2nd century that official stations were built explicitly for the Vigiles' use. By the early 3rd century sub-stations ( excubitoria ), which held forty to fifty men, were constructed to accommodate the expanding city and the surrounding suburbs. The locations of four of the seven cohort stationes or barracks have been fairly definitively identified: The VII Cohort was probably housed in

3726-450: The oxygen in the air above the fire, thus removing one of the elements that the fire requires to burn. This can also be done with foam. Another way to extinguish a fire is fuel removal. This can be accomplished by stopping the flow of liquid or gaseous fuel, by removing solid fuel in the path of a fire, or by allowing the fire to burn until all the fuel is consumed, at which point the fire will self-extinguish. One final extinguishing method

3795-528: The peace while they patrolled the streets. Sedition , riots and violent crimes were handled by the Cohortes urbanae and (to a lesser extent) the Praetorian Guard , though Vigiles could provide a supporting role in these situations. The Vigiles were not considered a para-military unit. The first Vigiles sequestered private homes and buildings to use as their command posts . It was not until

3864-468: The presence of fire) but use compressed air in a similar manner to SCUBA diving gear . A firefighter's SCBA usually hold 30 to 45 minutes of air, depending on the size of the tank and the rate of consumption during strenuous activities. While this gear helps to eliminate the risks, firefighters are still exposed to smoke, toxic dust, fumes and radiation that have contributed to firefighters being 14% more likely to develop cancer. Obvious risks associated with

3933-477: The prestige of the Praetorian Guard or the Urban Cohorts , serving in the corps was usually only a means of achieving more honourable and lucrative posts. One known praefectus , Placidianus was put in charge of an expeditionary force sent to Gaul by Claudius II (Gothicus) on his accession in 269 AD to secure the lower Rhone valley against the so-called Gallic Empire . This is the only known instance of

4002-470: The problems encountered in a toxic environment. The first step in a firefighting operation is reconnaissance to search for the origin of the fire and to identify the specific risks. Fires can be extinguished by water, fuel or oxidant removal, or chemical flame inhibition; though, because fires are classified depending on the elements involved, such as grease, paper, electrical, etcetera, a specific type of fire extinguisher may be required. The classification

4071-467: The spread of the fire. However, there is no mention of fires being extinguished, rather they were contained and burned themselves out. Ancient Rome did not have an organized firefighting force until the Vigiles were formed during the reign of Augustus . The first ever Roman fire brigade was created by Marcus Licinius Crassus . Fires were almost a daily occurrence in Rome, and Crassus took advantage of

4140-423: The start of the 1800s, insured buildings were identified with a badge or mark indicating that they were eligible for a company's firefighting services. It is a common belief that buildings not insured with a particular company were left by its firefighters to burn, unless they happened to be adjacent to an insured building, in which case it was often in the company's interest to prevent the fire from spreading. This

4209-476: The streets. Their most famous prefect, Naevius Sutorius Macro , succeeded Lucius Aelius Sejanus as Prefect of the Praetorian Guard after his men had been used by the Emperor Tiberius to retake control of the city from Sejanus's soldiers. Vigiles were stationed at the harbour cities of Ostia and Portus . A vexillatio (detachment) of four centuries was detached from Rome for four months at

SECTION 60

#1732798409640

4278-535: The structure burn to the ground. After buying many properties this way, he rebuilt them, and often leased the properties to their original owners or new tenants. Prior to the Great Fire of London in 1666, some parishes in the UK had begun to organize rudimentary firefighting crews. After the Great Fire, Nicholas Barbon introduced the first fire insurance. In order to reduce insurance costs, Barbon also formed his own fire brigade , and other companies followed suit. By

4347-421: The supply of water. The ordinary firefighters were called milites (soldiers). The Vigiles were organized into seven cohorts each 1,000 men strong. The cohorts contained seven centuries . The centuries were commanded by centurions , and the cohort was commanded by a tribune . The commander of the Vigiles was the Praefectus Vigilum. The centurions of the Vigiles would often go on to become centurions in

4416-511: The transmission of heat towards the body. No PPE, however, can completely protect the user from the effects of all possible fire conditions. Heat can cause flammable liquid contained in tanks to explode violently, producing what is called a BLEVE (boiling liquid expanding vapor explosion). Some chemical products such as ammonium nitrate fertilizers can also explode, potentially causing physical trauma from blast or shrapnel injuries. Sufficient heat causes human flesh to burn as fuel, or

4485-421: The vaporization of solid and liquid fuels. The resulting self-sustained chemical chain reaction is complex and requires fuel, an oxidizer, and heat energy to come together in a very specific way. An oxidizing agent is a material or substance that will release gases, including oxygen, when the proper conditions exist. It is crucial to the sustainment of a flame or fire. Using water is one common method to extinguish

4554-414: The water within to boil, leading to potentially severe medical problems. Furthers risks include the occurrences of backdrafts . Backdrafts occur when there is a large amount of oxygen introduced to an oxygen-depleted fire. If a fire is compartmentalized and most or all of the oxygen has been burned up, there is a high risk of backdraft if something such as a window or door is opened. Introducing oxygen to

4623-475: Was semi-autonomous and had its own insignia, such as cap badge and stable belt . The Army Department Fire Service later amalgamated into the Ministry of Defence Fire Service . This United Kingdom military article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . This article relating to firefighting is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Firefighting Firefighting

4692-533: Was the bucket brigade, involving two lines of people formed between the water source and the fire. Typically, men in one of the lines would pass along the full buckets of water toward the fire while in the other line women and children would pass back the empty buckets to be refilled. In the 17th century the first "fire engines" were made, notably in Amsterdam. In 1721, the English inventor Richard Newsham made

4761-466: Was the most common punishment for negligence according to the Digest of Justinian, "where persons have paid insufficient attention to their fire, the prefect ... orders them to be beaten". During the Great Fire of Rome in AD 64 over one third of Rome was destroyed by flames. The young Emperor Nero helped to direct the Vigiles in fighting the flames. It was rumoured that the Vigiles intentionally allowed

#639360