Discover the hard-won history of fire protection in America and beyond, from early fire marks to steam engines.
This nonfiction book surveys the evolution of fire insurance, fire brigades, and the gear that protected cities from flame. Rich with illustrations and anecdotes, it traces how underwriters, volunteers, and early engineers shaped safer communities while revealing the people and artifacts behind the era’s dramatic fire service.
Ideal for readers of historical works on firefighting, insurance history, and urban development, this edition provides a accessible overview of a pivotal era in public safety.