Fire Engines Photos

John,BW Models do a lovely little model of these Fireflies.I have built a couple in civvy colours but having seen this,think the next will be a RAF one.

Added by Gary Simpson on 26 December 2009.

Thanks for the compliment Gary, she should have had the yellow stripe as we used her at Unst airfield with our Tacr 1. Story was that the Sgt i/c fire section wanted it all green as the locals always had a pair of binoculars on you!

Added by John Stott on 28 December 2009.

Ah, John; but you were probably "Big News", in this tiny rural community - talk about "blending into the landscape" - what a contrast to the big, flashy, brightly-coloured fire-engines of the city !

I bet that every-body and his dog, knew where the fire was.....

Regards, from Canada,
Pat_R-B

Added by Pat Rivers-Bowerman on 29 December 2009.

Pat, as usual you make me laugh! The locals used to clean their chimneys by setting fire to them, the crofts had walls five feet thick so it didn't matter, their neighbours would dial 999 and we would roar up to put it out. The ensuing arguments still ring in my ears 30 years on!

Added by John Stott on 29 December 2009.

John; that must have been priceless.

A local custom that is not covered in "The Manual"......

Our local VFD's will obligingly burn local residents' houses down for them, for same reason.

These are deteriorated, unwanted and/or abandoned structures, Insurance Write-Offs, etc; inevitably of wood; so, it is better to have the fire, at a suitable time and choice, under controlled cicumstances.

Usually, the VFD works some training into it; the owners are very grateful to be rid of a liability; and often make a donation/support to the VFD that burnt their house down.....

It is not a little bewildering, to passing city folk and tourists, not in on the info - to see all kinds of fire equipment and personnel on scene, unconcernedly watching the blazing structure go to the ground.

Cheers,
Pat_R-B

Added by Pat Rivers-Bowerman on 31 December 2009.

Pat what an interesting story! I know it happens in Sweden but didn't realise Canada bred a race of arsonists! The Shetlanders didn't understand our legal obligations, but mainly were happy for us to attend when things got out of control, she was endearingly known as " the wee green pomp", happy days.

Added by John Stott on 31 December 2009.

John, could you email me any other, this shot included, as I have one of these that I should restore, mine is ex RAF but it has and was delivered with a civi number ARE 967J. Many thanks
[email protected]

Added by Gordon Smith on 01 January 2010.

Pleasure Gordon, will sort out from the debris and send to you, good luck you wont be disappointed!

Added by John Stott on 02 January 2010.

I served with the RAF Fire Service at Saxa Vord (1976 to 78) and remember this Firefly well! A great little machine but underpowered for the hills... Just a shame it had to be green rather than red!

Added by Nick Broom on 06 October 2011.

Any further pictures or info on this one>>

Added by Justin on 18 October 2011.

Land Rover/Firefly 24 FK 45 is on the driveway of a private house near me in Kent. Would anyone happen to know where it was based? I'd be interested to know what other kit these little machines carried when on the run.

Added by Phil. on 02 September 2012.

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