There were no telephones, and the alarm was raised by someone running to the fire station.  More than that, there was a system for alerting any adjacent fire stations, so that better cover could be given to the district as a whole.  The power for the pumps was from men, and to rescue anyone the fireman had to ascend a ladder, hunt for the person, and carry him or her back down the ladder, all done with unsophisticated gear.  Injuries to firemen, or even their death, were frequent.