Major U.S. Cities Using National Standard Fire Hydrants, One Century After the Great Baltimore Fire

Published

August 1, 2004

Author(s)

Momar D. Seck, D D. Evans

Abstract

Fire Equipment responding from different cities to the Great Baltimore Fire in 1904 were hampered or rendered useless by the incompatibility of hose and fire hydrant connections. After the Baltimore fire, a national standard for fire hydrant connections was adopted by the National Fire Protection Association. One-hundred years after the Great Baltimore Fire 18 out of the 48 most populated U.S. cities have installed national standard fire hydrants. Specification are given for the hose connections on hydrants installed in 48 cities.

Citation

NIST Interagency/Internal Report (NISTIR) -

NIST Pub Series

NIST Interagency/Internal Report (NISTIR)

Pub Type

NIST Pubs

Download Paper

Local Download

Keywords

fire fighting, fire hoses, fire hydrants, Great Baltimore Fire, Oakland Hills Fire, pumper connection, standards, steamer connection

Citation

Seck, M. and Evans, D. (2004), Major U.S. Cities Using National Standard Fire Hydrants, One Century After the Great Baltimore Fire, NIST Interagency/Internal Report (NISTIR), National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=861321 (Accessed October 14, 2025)