3-021-593 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

The London Fire Brigade at practice on the Thames Embankment, 1868. 'A grand inspection of the engines and firemen belonging to the Metropolitan Fire Brigade...took place...Two floating steam fire-engines on the river, and four land-travelling steam fire-engines, besides a number of the most powerful hand-engines and two fire-escapes, were tried with perfect success; and the men were put through all the manoeuvres of their drill, which they executed with the utmost promptitude and precision. The reorganisation of the Fire Brigade, raising it to its present state of efficiency and completeness of equipment, has been one of the most useful public services done in the last few years...There are now forty-three fire stations, in an area of 110 square miles...The number of engines is ninety-five, including half a dozen steam fire-engines, the best of which can travel, on the river or canals at a speed of fourteen miles an hour, and can throw out nearly twenty-four tons of water in a minute...A hand-worked engine, with its firemen, can be drawn by two horses at full gallop; and the practice is to send off the hand engines first, to begin the attack upon a conflagration, the steamers coming up afterwards, as soon as they can'. From "Illustrated London News", 1868.