Since the dawn of humanity's mastery over fire, it has repeatedly posed a threat. However, it was only in modern times that fires and disasters began to be systematically fought. In the 19th and 20th centuries, increasingly better and more effective means were developed to combat the dangers of fire. Previously, firefighting was largely in the hands of poorly trained amateurs, but technological advancements and the establishment of professionally trained fire brigades led to significant progress. Hajo Brandenburg, a historian and director of the Fire Brigade Museum in Schleswig-Holstein, has selected the most interesting photos of firefighters and their work from over 100 local history picture books published by Sutton for this book. These images showcase spectacular fires and the heroic efforts to combat them, as well as the everyday life within fire crews and firefighting associations.