"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. (Courtesy of the Union Fire Department.)