Fire-squirt

Fire squirts were used to fight the Great Fire of London in 1666 and afterwards the new fire regulations ordered each parish to have two squirts. Made of brass, this squirt is like a very large syringe. The nozzle is dipped into a bucket of water and the rod is pulled out, sucking the water up. At least two people are needed to use it: one to hold the handles on each side and another to push the rod in, squirting the water out into the fire. This is not a very efficient way of fighting a fire. The flow of water is not continuous, due to the constant need to stop and refill the squirt. Also each squirt contained less than a gallon (4.5 litres) of water (a modern fire engine hose sends out over 400 litres per minute!). With this type of basic equipment, it is no wonder that fire fighters were overwhelmed during the Great Fire. This squirt is engraved with the arms of the City of London Corporation and the date 1687.