] I was recently reading a book on the history of fire engines, and realized that the use of open fires for heating and cooking as well and candles and lamps for lighting made the risk of fire very great in JA's time. Even in cities, firefighting was a rather chaotic activity, and permanently-staffed fire departments were years in the future.

] The situation was even worse in the country, so it was not unusual for private landowners to purchase fire engines and organize fire brigades to protect their property. On reading this, I also wondered if perhaps all those ornamental ponds and fountains might have had a dual purpose; one for decoration, and the other to get a source of water near the house.

] I doubt JA would have thought of such a thing, but it's quite likely that great estates like Donwell Abbey or Pemberly would have had their own fire engines. This was in the pre-steam era, so fire engines were worked by hand, usually by groups of men raising and lowering handles that ran parallel to the sides of the engine. Most of the male tenants and servants likely would have been organized to take turns pumping. Water was frequently brought to the engine by bucket brigades fromed of women and children, though a few fire engines were equipped to pump water directly from a well or other source (an ornamental pond, perhaps?).

] I've cojured up a rather amusing mental picture of Mr. Kinghtley using a megaphone to urge his tenants to pump harder, while Emma is helping organize the bucket brigade. In the background is an absolutely terrified Mr. Woodhouse.

] Fire engines could also be used for more mundane purposes, such as watering lawns or gardens.

] I have scanned pictures of two fire engines from the era we're speaking of here, and have posted them in the "Photos that defy categorization." One was built in 1791 for the Earl of Stafford to protect his estate at Wentworth Castle, and the other was built in 1799 for the Earl of Derby to protest his estate at Knowsley Hall. It is interesting that both of these estates still exist, though one is now a college.