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The National Fire Protection Association estimates that fire departments respond to an average of 366,600 home structure fires a year. These fires account for a yearly average of $7.2 billion in direct property damage. However, these numbers would be much higher without the hard work and true bravery of an estimated 1,129,250 firefighters in the U.S. (as of 2012) and the tools they use, like the modern fire engine.

We take clean streets for granted, but there’s a lot that goes into keeping dirt, grime, and trash off the streets. That’s where street sweepers come in, and while they predate the automobile, they remain an invaluable part of our society’s waste management system. Let’s look at the history of street sweepers.