History of Fire Extinguishers

Every year, fire extinguishers save hundreds of lives, and we are accustomed to seeing them in business and workplaces in our daily lives. But have you ever considered how they came to be the trusted and recognisable sight they are today?

In this blog, we will have a close look at the history of this useful thing for human beings as they keep our lives safe. Let’s start from the beginning. 

The great History:

We know that bucket chains or buckets handed hand to hand, were employed by the Romans to bring water to the fire. Then, in the Middle Ages, a nozzle submerged in water worked like a bicycle pump, sucking up water by pulling out the plunger, and then pushing down to push out the water targeted at the fire. This was referred to as a squirt. In 1666, squirts were used to put out the Great Fire of London.

Ambrose Godfrey invented the first documented fire extinguisher in 1723.

Ambrose Godfrey, a notable English scientist, developed the first documented fire extinguisher in England in 1723. Godfrey's contraption consisted of a container of fire-extinguishing fluid encircling a small container of gunpowder. A series of fuses connected the gunpowder container. The gunpowder detonated and spread the solution when the primary fuse was lighted.

George William Manby invents the first modern fire extinguisher in 1818.

George William Manby, a British Captain and developer, invented a transportable pressurised fire extinguisher in the 1810s. The apparatus could dump three gallons (13.6 litres) of potassium carbonate (also known as pearl ash) onto a fire. The potassium carbonate solution was enclosed within compressed air in Manby's copper container.

Almon M. Granger patented the soda-acid extinguisher in the United States in 1881.

In 1881, Almon M. Granger invented a new version of the soda-acid extinguisher in the United States. Granger's version generated pressurised water by reacting sodium bicarbonate solution with sulfuric acid. 

1950's and 1960's

Significant advances in dry chemical agents during this time period resulted in the advent of potassium bicarbonate (Purple K), monoammonium phosphate (ABC), potassium chloride (Super K), and urea potassium (Monnex). Dry chemicals are non-toxic.

Modern world:

The modern extinguishers we see today were first developed in the mid-twentieth century. These typically include a pressurised vessel for storing and discharging the extinguishing agent.

Despite years of research, there is still a lot of misinformation regarding which fire extinguisher to use and how to use it. Are you certain that you and your employees would know which fire extinguisher to use in a given situation? Please connect to kanex right away if you require assistance.