A brief history of firefighting in the UK
Manchester Blitz, 1940Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service was set up in 1974. Below we profile the major changes in Fire Service history which led to the formation of our brigade.
1666 – The Great Fire of London
In 1666 the King’s baker’s shop in London’s Pudding Lane caught fire and the blaze spread quickly through the neighbouring medieval wooden houses. It burnt fiercely for five days through the city’s streets and destroyed some 3,000 houses and 87 churches.
Firefighting measures prior to the Great Fire of London were minimal but in the decades that followed the disaster fire pumps and fire insurance was introduced for the first time. Insurance companies realised they could limit payouts by running their own fire pumps and men so they became the earliest type of fire brigade.
1826 – Manchester launches England’s first municipal fire service
Eventually the insurance company operations were taken over by the local authorities with Manchester leading the way and getting the first municipal fire service in England. At this time, it was still usual for volunteers to help at fires by manning pumps in return for a small payment and plenty of liquid refreshment! The introduction of steam power in the later 1800s ended this practice. At about the same time, wheeled escape ladders were developed to increase rescue capability.
1901 – Eccles is supplied with the first motor fire engines
Eccles was the first of many fire services to replace their trusty horses with motor engines. As well as this, other significant improvements began to take place such as the introduction of street fire alarms and telegraphic communication.
By this time, the service was much more professional, with larger brigades coming under the control of a Chief Constable. Firefighters worked long, continuous duty systems for up to 14 days at a time, families often lived on fire stations too. Meanwhile, the smallest towns still relied on volunteers.
1939 – The Second World War
The period between the wars saw an increase in professionalism, with greater co-ordination between brigades and the need to cope with new hazards such as petroleum, plastics and aviation.
As the country prepared for war in the late 1930s, thousands of auxiliary firefighters were enrolled to cope with the expected air raids. Temporary fire stations were opened in urban areas and for the first time it became a legal requirement to provide a fire service. The air-raids of 1940 and 1941 caused severe destruction and loss of life, resulting in the formation of a temporary National Fire Service for the remainder of the war.
1947 – The new Fire Services Act
This new Act meant a return to local authority fire brigades and laid down the foundations for an efficient, modern service. National standards were introduced and there was an increase in special service calls such as road accidents. A series of disastrous fires in the 50s, 60s, and 70s led to the introduction of stringent fire safety laws in factories, offices and hotels, administered by the local fire service.
1974 – Introduction of large metropolitan authorities
The mid 70s saw the demise of borough brigades and the introduction of large metropolitan authorities such as Greater Manchester. Since then this brigade has built up a reputation as one of the most progressive in the country. As well as operating some of the most modern appliances, equipment, and premises, GMFRS is renowned for its pioneering work in areas such as safer furniture, smoke alarms and children’s fire safety education.