Fire pumps deliver water at high pressure to extinguish fires and are used in building sprinkler systems and firefighting vehicles. They were invented in the 16th century and are essential for effective firefighting. Specialized fire pumps are used for different situations, such as fire boats and foam application.
A fire pump is a specialized water pump used in firefighting. While most water pumps are designed to deliver water at a fixed or variable pressure, a fire pump is part of a high pressure system. The intense pressure maintained by a fire pump can deliver water rapidly over a large area or in a high pressure stream over a concentrated area. Both methods will help contain the fire. Fire pumps are part of building sprinkler systems and are also used on fire fighting vehicles. They can distribute foam or other flame retardants in addition to water.
Organized firefighters date back to ancient Rome, but for centuries they consisted of bucket brigades that hauled water by hand from available sources. In the 16th and 17th centuries, firefighters had to break into the municipal water supply, which was little improved. The first fire pump was invented in the late 16th century, soon followed by the fire hose. Paris was the first city to have a fire department, established by the King of France in 17. France’s firefighters were called pompiers, or pumpers, and are still known by that name in modern times.
The fire pump aids firefighting by providing a pressurized stream of water, which firefighters can direct to strategic areas with fire hoses. Fire engines contain a portable fire pump for this purpose. The water from the fire hydrants is diverted to the engine fire pump and then to the fire hoses. The stream of pressurized water extinguishes burning materials while cooling the surrounding area, preventing the fire from spreading. A pressurized stream is therefore much more effective than water alone for putting out a fire.
Fire pumps are also essential parts of building fire sprinkler systems. When the sprinkler system is activated by a heat or smoke detector, sprinklers installed in walls or ceilings distribute water throughout the building. Again, high pressure is required to ensure saturation of the entire building or area. A smaller pump, called a jockey pump, is connected to the fire pump to maintain this high pressure while the sprinkler system is running.
There are varieties of fire pumps available for specialized firefighting situations. For example, fire boats pump liquids directly from the surrounding body of water instead of drawing on municipal systems to fight fires on ships or shorelines. Other fire pumps allow for the addition of foam to compressed air, a highly effective flame retardant. Added to water, compressed air foam is often used on oil or chemical fires or other fires that would withstand traditional water treatment methods.
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