Story & Photos by Jacqueline Bennett newsandviewsjb.com Before fire response could be measured in the mere minutes powerful red trucks with sirens blasting are able to to soar to the scene,  muscular men slid down firehouse poles and literally, themselves pulled 5,000 pound apparatus responding to a blaze. Fascinating facts such as this and much more can be found at the The Fire Museum in Manchester, Connecticut – an unsung gem. A wealth of information about the interesting history of firefighting in the state awaits visitors here, along with up close views of apparatus and memorabilia that trace the transition of firefighting from man pulled apparatus to horse drawn and then motorized – including a rare coal burning steam engine, one of only two…