History -- Modern Marvels: Firefighting! Extreme Conditions

Fire has been a fundamental force affecting mankind since before caveman days. Both a blessing and a curse, fire at its worst has wiped out whole cities full of thousands of people. Efforts to control fire have intrigued us since the Roman era, but only within the last few centuries has science and technology changed the way we fight demon fire. From bucket brigades and wooden syringes to thermal imaging cameras and computer diagrams, the history of firefighting in America has been a remarkable adventure.Conflagrations in Chicago and San Francisco during the previous century produced changes in city planning and infrastruture. Disasters at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory and the Cocoanut Grove earlier in this century prompted tougher building codes and regulations. Good old fashioned technology has brought us from the horse-drawn steamer to the bright red hook and ladders that go screaming down our nation's busy city streets. Not to mention fireproof clothing, high pressure water systems and smoke alarms