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Fire Apparatus

The Evolution of Fire Apparatus

The FDNY’s transition to the gasoline combustion engine was slow and cautious. The steam engine was a well-developed and proven technology. The Department was not willing to completely risk the safety of the City on relatively new technology so they experimented with gasoline engines, which proved their effectiveness and caused the FDNY to gradually phase out horse drawn apparatus. Visitors to the Fire Museum can see this transition from steam to motorized apparatus on our first floor. Not only do we have the beautiful horse drawn 1901 LaFrance steam engine, which saw service in Brooklyn, but we have a 1912 steamer with a gasoline powered Van Blerck tractor, and a 1921 American LaFrance gasoline powered pumper.

“Old 93” American-LaFrance Tractor-Steamer

This “hybrid” pumper, a coal-fired steam engine drawn by a gas powered front-drive tractor, illustrates the transition from horse-drawn to motorized apparatus. The steamer was a well proven technology and the FDNY was not willing to completely risk safety on a relatively new technology.

Brooklyn Engine Co. No. 8

This 1901 La France coal-fired steam engine was horse drawn and could pump 700 gallons per minute. Steam powered pumpers were not widely accepted by the volunteer fire department, but became standard when the paid department was established in 1865.

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