Fire extinguishing equipment is a must-have item for firefighting that is often neglected by others and can be used when it is urgently needed. Especially in today's high-rise buildings, with a lot of wood, plastic and fabric decoration, once there is a fire, if there is no proper fire extinguishing equipment, it may cause a catastrophe.
Fire extinguishers in ancient times were very simple, nothing more than hooks, axes, shovels, buckets and the like. The first true dedicated fire extinguisher was invented in 1816 by the English captain, Norfolk native Manby, and it was just one or two drums filled with compressed air containing more than 1 liter of water.
By the mid-19th century, French physician Gallier had invented the portable chemical fire extinguisher. Mix sodium bicarbonate and water in the barrel, and use another glass bottle to hold sulfuric acid in the mouth of the barrel. When in use, the bottle is broken by a striker, which mixes the chemicals, produces carbon dioxide, and pushes the water out of the barrel.
In 1905, Professor Laurent of Russia invented a foam fire extinguishing agent in St. Petersburg, mixing aluminum sulfate with sodium bicarbonate solution and adding a stabilizer. It can effectively isolate oxygen and smother the flame.
In 1909, Davidson in New York obtained a patent for using carbon dioxide to press carbon tetrachloride from a fire extinguisher, a liquid that instantly turns into a heavier, non-flammable gas to smother the flame. Since then, a variety of small fire extinguishers such as dry powder fire extinguishers and liquid carbon dioxide fire extinguishers have appeared.