The history of the fire engine

When boys (and some girls) grow up they want to be two things, a fireman or a policeman. Nothing is as exciting as a big red truck speeding down the road with sirens blaring and lights flashing off to put down some big fire and most likely save people’s lives. Where did it all start though?

1700 – Water pumps on wheels:

The first fire engines were water pumps fixed with wheels. You had fire fighters called “bucket brigades” who pulled the water pump to the fire and started pumping while the other fire man hosed the fire down. The water pump didn’t have any seats and was just a basic pump and wheel design. It moved slowly as the water filled tank was heavy. Even if two people were pulling it they took quite some time to get to the fire and then the fire most likely destroyed everything already.

1800 – Water pumps pulled by horses

Paid fire fighters came into the scene which made it easier to set up a budget. This way the service could hire horses to pull the heavy water pump. This resulted in quicker response times and a lot of homes and lives being saved. The only problem was that this still didn’t solve the issue of transporting the firemen since they had to run after the water pump and rest before they could start fighting the fire. The fire fighters later added running boards and steps which they could jump onto.These added designs made the pump heavier for the poor horse which resulted in the next invention.

1841 –Steam powered fire engine

The first steam powered fire engine was built in New York and was self propelled. It didn’t last though as most fire fighters saw this design as a dangerous concept and didn’t trust the propulsion solution. They only started using it ten years later once they trusted the design.

When the building started to grow in size in the 1930’s fire fighters installed ladders to reach the higher floors. This resulted in a 150 feet long ladder which was installed on a swivel which was built onto the fire truck.

1960’s – Modern day Fire trucks

The full final design of the fire engines as we know it was defined in the 1960’s. The truck was self propelled, had seats for the fire fighters, had a modern water pump, ladders and a cherry picker.

 Time surely does improve inventions; it’s great that technology can become so advanced in such a short time. Can’t wait to see when they invent Hover Fire Trucks or fire truck trailers for sale. 

Small changes have a big effect

When people talk about building on or re-doing a certain room in their house I bet most of them think big changes that are going to cost a lot of money. This should not always be the case and people need to realize that there is actually smaller changes one can make to your home that still has a big impact on the whole look and feel of it. I want to go over some things I think is great ideas to make your house look and feel more modern and big.

Dinning Room and Lounge

When you think about re-doing your lounge then there are a few things people may want. If you looking for more space then there is lots of things you can do. If you currently have a display cabinet in your lounge then its time to get rid of that thing. If you have items in your display cabinet that you still want to keep in your lounge then install some shelves to hold them instead of a big display cabinet taking up space. Hang your TV against the wall or get a TV stand if you do not have a flat screen television.

Cool the house down

Installing a air con in your home might seem like an expensive option but it works in the long run. Another option that is longer lasting and gives you more options in terms of customization is installing some tiles. I have recently installed some ceramic tiles in my home and it has cooled it down considerably. I have installed the tiles in my bathroom, lounge and kitchen. I replaced our old door with a sliding door which allows more air to pass through the house. The trick with leaving doors open is to leave one open at the back and one in the front of the house. This allows the air to flow more freely through the whole house.

Outdoor entertainment

Invest in some outdoor entertainment. I BBQ area works well for when you have friends over and its a hot day. If you don’t have a pool then maybe install some other type of water feature that is cheaper to install but still does a job of cooling you down. Here you can opt to install some porcelain tiles in the outside area if you want to add a special touch.

These are just a few of the things you can do to improve your home at a low cost.

The new year interior changes

The new year is here and I have planned some exciting upgrades for my home. By upgrades I do not mean buying some new home and kitchen appliances. I am talking about some really big changes to my home. I am planning to build some new rooms and entertainment areas in the house before the middle of the year. After some long thinking I realized what rooms I need to add to my house.

The entertainment area
I plan to build a entertainment area in my house where I could add a few fun things to do. I will be adding a pool table and fireplace where I can have a BBQ anytime. This is of course going to be indoors as I am not a fan of having this kind of stuff outside. Its best to have it inside because once winter comes around I would still like to make use of the fireplace.

Guest Bedroom
I always have friends wanting to stay over at my house so I think a guest bedroom is a must for me. I don't intend on pimping this room out to much but I at least want to make it a comfortable area for somebody to spend the night in. Some nice duvet and curtains with neutral colors so that males or females would feel at home in the room. I would also like to add a en-suite so that they can freshen up in privacy instead of coming to the public bathroom in the morning.

My lounge area
I already have a lounge area but I want to break down a few walls and have the lounge and kitchen in one big area. I like the open plan more than a small kitchen where I have to stare at 4 walls while cooking. I have recently bought a new TV and surround sound system and I want to be able to watch some programs while I stand in front of a stove of counter.