What fire apparatus was historically used in firefighting before mechanized pumps were developed?

Historically, the manual pump was an essential tool for firefighting before the advent of mechanized pumps. These hand-operated pumps relied on human strength to create suction and force water through hoses to extinguish fires. Early firefighters would work in teams, using coordinated efforts to pump water from nearby sources, such as rivers or wells, and direct it towards the flames.

Manual pumps were pivotal in fire response, as they allowed for the transportation of water to various parts of a fire scene before motorized vehicles could do so. Firefighting methods relied heavily on these devices, and they marked a significant progression in firefighting technology during their time.

The other options, while they have their own roles in firefighting, do not fit the historical context of being a primary firefighting apparatus prior to mechanized pumps. Chemical wagons were typically utilized for chemical extinguishing agents, fire hooks were more for controlling flames and debris rather than delivering water, and booster tanks are a modern development that incorporates a pump with a water tank, which emerged after the era of manual pumps.