1st June 1916 was the founding of the Association of Liquid Chemical Fire Extinguisher Manufacturers which became the Fire Extinguisher Trades Association (FETA) in 1929 and later joined with BFPSA to become the FIA.

A group of senior men from several companies manufacturing fire extinguishers got together. This meeting was called ‘to consider what steps should be taken to deal with the incorrect and belittling reports which have been circulated amongst Government Departments and Public Bodies by certain persons, more particularly the British Fire Prevention Committee’.

These reports all suggested that modern handheld fire-extinguishers were no more use in tackling a fire than a simple bucket of water would be.

The manufacturers felt that no efficient action could be taken unless they formed a body to represent their interests.