Here is some history about firefighting. Like many things forwarded and found on the internet, I have not been able to source this information but found it interesting. All my life I have heard the phrase "Fire Plug" and I must admit that my "Intellectual Curiosity" never reached the point of looking it up.

CATCHING THE PLUG

    This phrase has been used for many years in the fire service. It refers back to the days when water mains in the ground were made of wood. When firefighters went to a fire, they would have to find the water main and dig a hole. Once they had access to the water main they would drill a hole to retrieve water with buckets (Later firefighters would be able to draft out of this hole when technology in fire apparatus advanced). When the fire was over they would use a wooden plug to plug the hole in the water main and cover it back with dirt. If a fire happened again in the same area firefighters would remember where the closest plug was. This in turn would make it easier and quicker to access water than to drill another hole into the water main. Since the use of plugs, the fire service has advanced to hydrants. Keeping the tradition alive firefighters still use the term, "catching the plug" when retrieving water from a fire hydrant.

    I was just wondering how the kids back in the old days were able to cool off after a rough game of street football. Maybe they just dug a hole, or better still went down to the river and jump in.