02/27/2026
The Invention of the First Fire Hose
Who invented the first fire hose?
Around 1673, Dutch painter, inventor and printmaker, Jan van der Heyden and his son produced what they referred to as “fire hose”. Jan van der Heyden went on to write the first firefighting manual: Brandspuiten-boek.
What material was used for the first fire hose?
Interestingly, Jan van Heyden and his son sewed leather tubes together. Leather is known to be tough, yet flexible making for a good way to carry that water to the fire. Leather is also known as ……Rawhide.
The first hoses were sewn in 50-foot lengths, which is still considered a standard length to this day. This allowed firefighters to get closer to the fire, which enabled them to aim and shoot the stream precisely where they wanted it.
