French Fire Engines (Tapa dura)

Fire fighting engines are brightly colored, red or yellow and shiny chrome. Their sirens ask people kindly to get out of the way, because here is now an emergency. Children loves these vehicles and their heroes. Napoleon Bonaparte is generally attributed as creating the first professional firefighters in France, known as Sapeurs-Pompiers, from the French Army. The corps was created under the Commandant of engineers in 1810. The Sapeurs-Pompiers was organized after a fire at the ballroom in the Austrian Embassy in Paris which injured several dignitaries. For a practical overview the pictures are organized according to region, with Paris as a separate entry. We hope you will enjoy our selection of photos.