Fire'- engine

(-en'jin,) an engine for extinguishing fire. It consists of 2 forcing-pumps, so combined that their joint action produces a constant and powerful stream of water, which,by means of a pipe, may be directed at pleasure to any point. The handles are so disposed, that, while the piston of one pump is up, that of the other is down; and they are elongated for the purpose of enabling a great number of men to work them at the same time. By an ingenious application of steam-power to the working of fire-engines, their usefulne has been greatly increased. As soon as an alarm is given, the fire is kindled, and the. bellows attached to the engine are worked by hand. By the time the horses are harne ed, the fuel is thoroughly ignited, and the bellows are then worked by the motion of the wheels; so that generally, by the time the engine reaches the fire, the steam is ready. One of the ordinary construction will work in 18 minutes after the fire is lighted, and will deliver about 9,000 gallons an hour to ah eight of 90 ft., through an orifice of 7-8ths of an inch. The first effective steam fire-engine was built in Cincinnati in 1853. [s. 366]