London Fire Brigade Gallery

LCC-LFB Fire display at Brigade HQ Southwark

The London Fire Brigade encouraged, for very many years, a good public image by opening its doors to the public to special fire brigade displays. On Saturday afternoons, during the summer months, it was a regular feature to see displays at the Southwark Headquarters. As the picture shows it drew large, and frequently a boater-hatted, crowds. A motorised fire engine works two firefighting jets, while a turntable ladder is fully extended to the top of the drill tower. Where there was space to stand and watch the public took every opportunity to do so

© London Fire Brigade / Mary Evans Picture Library

LFCDA-LFB Heavy fire Rescue tenders

The 1990s saw a new breed of fire rescue tenders, large and small, introduced into the London Fire Brigade. The heavy rescue unit carried a comprehensive range of cutting and spreading equipment, a larger crew, breathing apparatus and chemical protection suits. The light unit, whilst having lifting and spreading equipment, did not have the same scoop of equipment and carried a smaller crew. The picture shows the open compartments on one side of a heavy rescue unit

© London Fire Brigade / Mary Evans Picture Library

LCC-LFB Merryweather self-propelled Fire King pump

First introduced into the UK by Merryweather of Greenwich, SE London, in 1899, by 1907 twenty-one Fire Kings were in operational use around the country, including the London Fire Brigade. A modified Fire King was stationed at Whitefriars fire station in the City of London. The Fire King could travel at a speed of 20-30 mph but was unable to negotiate a significant gradient without stopping to build a sufficient head of steam. Seen here with crew at the London Fire Brigade headquarters, Southwark SE1

© London Fire Brigade / Mary Evans Picture Library