A more effective system would be utilized with the advent of iron pipes in the early 1800's. Water could be pressurized and a permanent connection fitted that had outlets and a faucet. Of course when freezing temperatures occurred, the stability of these hydrants was severely compromised. These early hydrants were protected by a wooden barrel shaped covering made of wood planks and metal straps. Eventually, improvements would be made and the hydrants of today took their place in the streets.
Fire hydrants are an extremely important part of firefighting.
They must be located so that they are easily identified and easily accessible to firefighters. A fire engine can only carry a limited amount of water, so it is vitally important for firefighters to be able to hook the fire engines to the hydrants to supply them with enough water to fight the fire. Fire engines also have a pump that gives the water from the hydrant enough pressure to fill the hoses and helps the firefighters reach the seat of the fire. Keep all bushes and shrubs cleared at least 3 feet in all directions around the hydrant. It may seem like a large area but firefighters need room to connect large hoses from several directions in order to do their job.