Birmingham Fire Brigade
Home | 573 | 4439 | Dennis | White and Poppe | Carter Paterson | LFB | Morris | Thornycroft | Singer
Page under construction
The first mention of a fire brigade in Birmingham was in 1695, but as with most UK cities the first professional fire brigades were under the control of the fire insurance companies who established their own brigades to reduce their liability. As such these brigades were primarily interested in saving goods and property from fire and had little interest in the protection of life from fire.
In 1864 the police force in Birmingham began to aquire escape ladders with which persons could be rescued from fire.
In 1867 the five insurance brigades in Birmingham amalgamated to form the United Fire Brigade in a cost saving exercise.
In 1903 the Brigade had 2 manual engines and 6 steamers.
In 1910 the Brigade had one motor pump, two motor tenders, six steamers and a horsed turntable ladder.
Albion Street fire station opened in Jan 1911, and Moseley Road opened in May 1912.
In 1915 there were 9 motor pumps, one motor TL ansd seven steamers.
In 1919 there were 15 motor pumps, 10 motor tenders, one motor lorry, six inspection cars and one steamer.
In 1929 there were 22 motor pumps, ten escape tenders, three TLs, a rescue van, three lories, and 12 inspection cars.
On November 9, 1911 the Brigade was expanded under the provisions of the Birmingham (Extension) Order. Aston Manor, Erdington, Handsworth, Kings Norton, Northfield and Yardley were now within the city, increasing the population from 570 thousand to 840 thousand. The number of fire stations increased from 5 to 12, and firemen from 105 to 197.
On October 13th 1974 the equipment and lease of premises in Little Cannon Street of the United Fire Brigade were transferred to the Corporation for £500. At this stage the Brigade had five fire engines.
They purchased a number of motor fire engines from Dennis and Leyland.
In 1974 the Brigade amalgamated with the surrounding Brigades to become West Midlands Fire Service.
Fleet being completed
Sorry, this page has been messed up by google sites dropping support for tables.
Fleet Number
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
100
Make
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
Dennis
?
?
Dennis
Dennis
Dennis
Dennis
Dennis
Dennis
Dennis
Dennis
Dennis
Dennis
?
?
Dennis
?
?
?
Dennis
Dennis
?
Dennis
?
?
?
Dennis
?
Dennis
Dennis
?
?
?
?
Dennis
Dennis
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
Leyland
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
Leyland
Model
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
60HP pump
?
?
30cwt ladder tender
Pump Escape
400 Gallon Pump
Escape and first aid
Pump Escape
?
Pump Ladder
Pump Escape
Ladder carrier
Pump ladder
?
?
Pump Ladder
?
?
?
Escape Carrier
Pump
?
Escape Carrier
?
?
Car
Pump Ladder
?
Pump Ladder
200 Gallon Pump
?
?
?
?
Pump Ladder
Rescue Tender
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
Recovery Truck
Year
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
1912
?
?
?
1914
1914
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
ca. 1920
Ca. 1920
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
1922
?
?
?
?
ca. 1924
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
1931
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
Registration Number
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
OA5800
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
OE2602
OE2603
?
OH100
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
OG253
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
If you have any information on Birmingham Fire Brigade please email me: benjamin.p.hawkins@gmail.com