World's' First Practical Fire Engine
Cincinnati, OH
January 1, 1853
Three Cincinnati, Ohio residents - Abel Shawk, Alexander Bonner Latta, and Miles Greenwood - invented the first practicle steam fire engine. Other steam-powered fire engines had been invented, but were not practicle. The Cincinnati City Council, after a demonstration of the new engine, contracted for an engine. The fire engine was presented to the Cincinnati Fire Department on January 1, 1853, making Cincinnati the first city in the world to use steam fire engines. This first engine was named "Uncle Joe Ross" after a city council member. |
