Large fires that occurred in some large cities in the United States in the second half of the 19th century led to increased attention to training and education of firefighters. By the end of the 19th century, training centers for firefighters were established in most major cities, and in 1909 the Firefighter College opened in New York.

With the advent of a large number of cars in the United States, they began to be used for various purposes, including for the fire service. These vehicles have reduced response times to incoming fire alarms and improved fire fighting efficiency. The Ford Model T fire truck, based on the model of the same name, was a light and maneuverable fire engine. This quality was important for the use of the car in hard-to-reach areas of large cities, inaccessible to large fire engines.