Fire Engines Photos

Great fire-scene action shot - hard-put to tell that it wasn't "a real fire".

What year was it - are those still the serge tunics, being sported by the firemen here?

Regards, from Canada,
Pat_R-B

Added by Pat Rivers-Bowerman on 02 May 2009.

Hi Pat,the picture was taken around 1975-76,its not the old lancer tunics,these replaced them i think,don't know what they were called though.
Picture was taken at Filton airfield.

Added by Bob on 03 May 2009.

Bob and Pat, there were quite a few new design tunics around at this time. The West Riding issue we received at Leeds / Bradford were made by Smiths of Derby. Six buttoned with a velcro waist to neck fastening and made of a wool based material. They had no belt hangers and rode up when wearing BA. With standard waist leggings a nice cold gap appeared round your middle!

Added by John Stott on 03 May 2009.

I was issued with the first 'new style' tunic in our brigade in 1967 which replaced the Lancer tunic. In place of the belt it had a nylon sling which went round the inside of the left armhole and came outside the tunic with a large 'D'ring, the apeture was protected by a leather reinforcment patch. The leather axecase was in the shape of the axe had a snaphook fixed to the rear which was then clipped to the D ring when the tunic was worn. After a few years many brigades removed the personal issue of the firemans axe and they were kept on the appliance and taken by crew as required.

Added by Barrie Green on 03 May 2009.

I have a feeling that this is Dodge K1050 H.C.B Angus FoT CAE856J. I found an Avon F.B fleet list on the web a few months ago but can't find it anymore!

Added by George A'court on 03 May 2009.

John,if i remember correctly some firefighters in Wales were burned because of the exposed area which is why the much longer tunics came out.

Added by Bob on 03 May 2009.

George,you are correct!
It was based at Avonmouth for its whole service.

Added by Bob on 04 May 2009.

Aye Bob you are right, there was a big to do about it in Fire magazine at the time. I really liked the PBI Gold American tunic that some brigades took on. Quite a few of us around the airport scene stuck with the Lancer though as it covered your rear end!

Added by John Stott on 05 May 2009.

The Foam Tender was built by Carmichael and went out of service around 88/89 when the pods were introduced

Added by Avonmouth on 13 May 2012.

Hi Bob, yes your correct, a number of Firefighters were seriously burnt in a ship explosion on the MV Pointsman at Milford Docks in I think 1984? Although not automatically, but within a few years, longer tunics were issued (Which effectivelly was the death of the Firefighter look) which were double layered, also longer and velcro, also its the death of the plastic leggings and thankfully the red plastic gloves!!

Added by D.K on 15 May 2012.

Hey Bristol, what's the Beddy up the back right corner, and looks like an airport crash tender?? Thanks, ,

Added by Pav on 15 May 2012.

Pav, picture 16379 is the Bedford, i had forgotten that I had previously submitted it

Added by Bristol Bob on 15 May 2012.

Excellent pic, thanks Bristol!

Added by Pav on 17 May 2012.

With its crew cab and ladders, this looks as if it may have served as a regular pump appliance as well as filling the role of foam tender.

Does anyone know if this was how it was designated?

Added by Rob Johnson on 18 August 2019.

Rob, As far as I know it was only a Foam Tender, the Station it was on already had two pumps.

Added by Bristol Bob on 20 August 2019.

Thanks Bob.

The city of Philadelphia here changed from having two dedicated foam units to running three combination foam pumps - which are also fully equipped as regular pump appliances, backed up by a bulk foam carrier.

I wondered if Bristol had come up with a similar idea.

Added by Rob Johnson on 21 August 2019.

Rob, pre dating this by some time, Bristol had two appliances which were water tender escapes and also had a foam capability, as well as the Brigade running a Foam Tender and foam carrier.

Added by Bristol Bob on 22 August 2019.

I photographed this machine on 5/3/1996 parked up beside the A29 at Pulborough in West Sussex

Added by M.West on 23 August 2019.

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