History thumb|right|Fire hose with Finnish coupler Until the mid-19th century, most fires were fought by water transported to the scene in buckets. Original hand pumpers discharged their water through a small pipe or monitor attached to the top of the pump tub.Matheson, Ewing. Aid book to engineering enterprise abroad. London: London New York, E. & F. N. Spon, 1878. Print. It was not until the late 1860s that hoses became widely available to convey water more easily from the hand pumps, and later steam pumpers, to the fire.Fornell, David P. Fire Stream Management Handbook. Saddle Brook, N.J: Fire Engineering, 1991. Print.
History thumb|right|Fire hose with Finnish coupler Until the mid-19th century most fires were fought by water transported to the scene in buckets. Original hand pumpers discharged their water through a small pipe or monitor attached to the top of the pump tub.Matheson Ewing. Aid book to engineering enterprise abroad. London: London New York, E. & F. N. Spon, 1878 Print. It was not until the late 1860s that hoses became widely available to convey water more easily from the hand pumps, and later steam pumpers, to the fire.Fornell, David P. Fire Stream Management Handbook. Saddle Brook, N.J: Fire Engineering, 1991. Print.