Why Fire Hydrants Are Still Called “Fire Plugs”

Before hydrants… there were plugs.

Back in the 1700s and 1800s, firefighters literally dug into wooden water mains and cut holes to draw water during fires. When the flames were out, they plugged the holes back up. That’s where the term “fire plug” was born! 🚒💧

In this episode of Beyond the Nozzle, we explore the forgotten history of the fire plug, the rival fire companies who sometimes fought over water, and how that tradition still lives on in the words we use today.

👉 You’ll learn:

• How firefighters got water before hydrants existed.

• Why rival companies raced to control the “fire plug.”

• How wooden plugs turned into the hydrants we see today.

• Why some firefighters still use the term “fire plug.”

It’s a lighter piece of fire service history—one that shows how the past still hides in plain sight on every street corner.

🌐 Learn more: socialfd.org
🎙 Listen to more: beyondthenozzle.com