Burning Gallery

LCC-LFB fatal warehouse fire, Langley Street WC2

Three firemen died fighting this blaze in a Covent Garden warehouse in Langley Street. The first crews to arrive, from Clerkenwell fire station, found the warehouse well alight. The building was heavily smoke-logged. As the crews entered the building the roof collapsed with fatal consequences. Station Officer Hawkins and fireman Batt-Rawden were both killed by the fall of debris. Fireman Gadd died later as a result of his injuries. Shown here are crews continuing to extinguish the fire within the shell of the collapsed warehouse

© London Fire Brigade / Mary Evans Picture Library

Great Fire of Newcastle and Gateshead

A view over Newcastle (on the far side of the River Tyne) and Gateshead (in the foreground) during the great fire which killed more than 50 people and destroyed many buildings. The fire started on 6 October in a worsted factory on the Gateshead side. Sulphur and other combustible materials in a nearby warehouse were ignited by the heat. The resulting huge explosion projected burning debris across Newcastle and thus the fire spread rapidly. Date: October 1854

© Illustrated London News Ltd/Mary Evans

London Fire Brigade, second Brixton Riots

On 28 September 1985 the second Brixton riot erupted. After the arrest of a man following a shooting incident, a largely black crowd protested at Brixton Police station in Lambeth, South London. The protest spread to the surrounding area. One building and dozens of cars were destroyed. The police lost control of the area for approximately 48 hours. Seen here is a London firefighter in front of a furniture store and flats, located on the corner of Gresham and Loughborough Road, destroyed by fire after being deliberately ignited by rioters

© London Fire Brigade / Mary Evans Picture Library