Original Image
		Fire at St Edmunds College Posted at Ware 1907 Image from very faded original

At the end of the 19th century many fire brigades had steamer" fire engines. These were horse-pulled carts carrying a steam boiler which worked the water pumps. Of course the boiler would take time to get up to steam, but it is said the draught caused by the horses galloping to the fire was used to help get the boiler fire to burn more fiercely.

The Hertford "Steamer" Fire Engine