Category: Classic Fire

Classic Fire

RGC 779 Auxiliary Fire Service Bedford RLHZ

RGC 779
Auxiliary Fire Service
Bedford RLHZ
This Yellow Goddess was used in Northern Ireland, most recently in the early 2000s during firefighter strikes. The army were concerned that the vehicles would be attacked and so they were fitted with guards over the windows and locker handles were removed. The most obvious change was that there were painted yellow to distinguish them from other green military vehicles.

Classic Fire

NPO 833R Guernsey FRS Land Rover Defender

NPO 833R
Guernsey FRS
Land Rover Defender
The vehicle was used as a light strike vehicle with designation Fire 7. It often supported larger fire appliance at fires and road accidents. When adopted by Alderney Fire Brigade its callsign changed to Red 7. It was fitted with a 7m ladder. A hosereel that was originally fitted to the front didn’t help handling characterists and so was removed. When operational, it spent one week on and one week off frontline duties, alternating with a 6-wheel Range Rover.

Classic Fire

LP 8389 ex-London Fire Brigade Dennis Type N

LP 8389
ex-London Fire Brigade
Dennis Type N

The open-top appliance has two seats at the front and wooden planks down the side for firemen to sit on as the keep hold of the ladder. A traditional bell is mounted at the front as well as the hole to enter the cranking handle to start it.

New in 1916, this appliance has quite some history behind it! It started life with London Fire Brigade in 1916 and was retired in 1932. It then became the factory fire engine for Joseph Crosfield and Sons Limited in Warrington. In 1955 they decided to donate it to Imperial College London for educational purposes. Four brave students drove the temperamental appliance some 200 miles from Warrington to London at speeds of up to 35 mph! It remains with Imperial College today.

Some of its TV and film appearances include Blue Peter in 1982 and Downton Abbey in 2014.

Classic Fire

DZ 6866 Lisburn Fire Brigade Dennis Light Four

DZ 6866
Lisburn Fire Brigade
Dennis Light Four
Built in 1938, the fire engie cost when £1,200 new. It was originally equipped with a 50-foot ladder but this was chnaged to a 30-foot ladder after the first one collapsed during a drill.

Classic Fire

Edinburgh Fire Museum on Lauriston Place

Edinburgh Fire Museum on Lauriston Place – with visions of yesteryear. Construction of the building as a fire station was completed in June 1900 at a cost of £43,000. Accommodation for the firemaster was included, as well as rooms for 30 firemen and their families. There was also workshops, stables (for horse-drawn appliances), laundry and (later) a control room. The museum has used the main bays since 1988. As of 2016, the building’s future is in doubt as the fire service look to move out and sell it. This would end over 100 years of fire appliances being based in the bays.

Classic Fire

SY 6848 Dennis Limousine

SY 6848
Dennis Limousine
Manufactured in 1936 and stationed at Musselburgh, East Lothian. This was one of the first covered appliances. The primary reason was to keep the equipment safe and dry rather than protecting the firemen from the rain and cold.

Classic Fire

AV 4203 Dennis New World Ace

AV 4203
Dennis New World Ace
Manufactured in 1936, the appliance was based at Penicuik. It found fame starring in Dr Finlay’s Casebook TV programme.

Classic Fire

WS 113 Leith Fire Brigade Halley fire appliance

WS 113
Leith Fire Brigade
Halley fire appliance
Manufactured in 1910 by Halley Company, Glasgow, for £1000. It is one of the oldest motorised fire appliances in existence and the only example of this type of appliance in the world. It is unusual because it is mad mainly of wood, even the wheels, which have solid rubber tyres. After service in Leith it was used as a stand by appliance at Bangour Village Hospital from 1932. It then became a breakdown lorry followed by being bought by an enthusiasts for preservation. The enthusiast passed away in 1965 and the appliance was bought at auction by Carlsberg for £1740. They then kindly donated it to the Edinburgh Fire Museum.

Classic Fire

SL 1943 National Fire Service Austin Taxi

SL 1943
National Fire Service
Austin Taxi
Commandeered by the NFS between 1939 and 1945, this Kirkintilloch taxi had ladders attached to the roof and firefighting equipment such as hose branches stowed in the passenger area. To all intents it was a fire appliance and attended many blazes during the Second World War.