In the all existing domestic literature, few scholars have studied the use of steamer pumps in fire engines, as well as the impact and status of steam fire engines in the firefighting history。 There is only part of the historical materials records of the first steam fire engines introduced from the United States。
With the development of the concession, the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, in view of the importance of strengthening the fire power, purchased a new type of fire engine from the United States in 1863, also known as "fire dragon"。 This fire engine was powered by a steam fire engine and trailered by the horses。 Before 1891, most of the steam fire engines and water dragon cars had to hire coolies to drag the engine to the fire ground, which was far from ideal or convenient。 In 1891, the fire pump began to be trailered by horses, which had used mules before。 In 1908, the fire department of public works brought some steamer pump and petrol pump fire engines from Britain, the United States and some other countries。 This is the first batch of motor-driven fire engines, which had entered Shanghai even China, and it is also the most advanced fire engine in the world。(李迎松, 2015)
1。2。2 Overseas Research Status
Urban fires are affected by climate factors, but few scholars study the impact of climate on urban fires。(Jonathan Corcoran, 2011) Climate influences fuel availability and flammability, ignition by lightning, and fire propagation after ignition。 Fire is thus strongly linked to the variations of climate and weather through space and time。 (TW, 1993) Chandler found that there was a significant relationship between the number of weekly fires and the average weekly minimum temperature。(SE, 1982)In Jakarta and Surabaya, the two largest cities in Indonesia, the number of monthly fires is directly affected by annual climate change, and fires occur more frequently in dry seasons。 Especially in Surabaya, the number of fires is negatively correlated with atmospheric humidity levels, when humidity is less than 70% or rainfall less than 6mm, the number of fire increase significantly。(Sufianto Heru, 2011) The high incidence of fires in Australia is related to local high temperatures。(Jonathan Corcoran, 2011) Fires occur as a result of the combination of predisposing weather, fuel conditions, and ignition agents。(Stolle F, 2003) Ignition may result from human activities or natural events。 Fire regimes can hence be defined by frequency, type, and predominant cause of fires in each region。 Fire regime maps (Figure 1。2) show current exposure for each region of the globe。(Scholes, 2007) Fire danger is also highly sensitive to daily variability in air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, and precipitation, all of which control fuel moisture, and hence whether a fire will smolder, burn, or go out after ignition。 In circumboreal regions for example, much of the forest area burnt yearly burns within just a few days during favorable synoptic weather patterns。(Flannigan MD, 2001; Skinner WR, 2001) Perhaps it was because of the climate pulsation that led to the variation of the frequency and size of fire。 These impacts may result in the technological progress which in order to meet the growing demand for firefighting。文献综述
In 1828, John Braithwaite (1797-1870) built an experimental steam fire engine in London。 The following year, in collaboration with John Ericsson, the distinguished Swedish-American engineer, he produced a well-proportioned, lightweight steam fire engine that was a remark able construction for its time (Figure 1。3)。(John H。 White, 1973)
Another English mechanic, Paul R。 Hodge, produced a steam fire engine in New York in 1840-1841 at the invitation of the city's fire insurance underwriters。 But Hodge's self-propelled engine, unlike Braithwaite's, was clumsy and far too heavy。 It weighed between 7 and 8 tons。 It pumped water satisfactorily enough, but the lumbering machine was soon abandoned because it took so long to reach the scene of a fire。 At the same time Hodge was at work, Ericsson developed a prize-winning design for the New York underwriters, but there is no evidence that an actual engine was built。(John H。 White, 1973)