Fireboat Collection (page 3)

Exercise Tideway at the Thames Barrier, Woolwich, SE London

Fireboat attending a fire in Battersea
A fireboat attending a fire in Battersea, SW London

LCC-LFB Fireboat Alpha, River Thames
From 1912 the previously used rafts, towed by tugs, were replaced by Londons first fireboats. These steam driven self-propelled shallow draught craft were based on the Royal Navy gunboats

Pontoon and fireboat return

LCC-LFB First fireboats in the London Fire Brigade
A fire float and tug were first introduced in 1877 and used until 1900 when they were replaced by shallow draft fireboats

LCC-MFB Fire float and tug at drills
Prior to the MFB acquiring its first purpose made fireboat, a tug would tow a fire float (containing a steam fire pump) to the scene of riverside blazes and fires on ships on the Thames

LCC-LFB Royal visit by HRH Prince Philip Lambeth
Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, on an informal visit to Brigade headquarters. Here he is visiting the Lambeth River fire station on the Albert Embankment, SE1

London Fire Brigade fireboat on the River Thames
A London Fire Brigade fireboat on the River Thames

LCC-LFB Massey Shaw fireboat, Greenwich, SE London
The Massey Shaw fireboat was built in 1935 on the Isle of Wight, and fitted out with powerful Merryweather pumps in Greenwich, SE London

LCC-LFB fireboat fleet at Lambeth HQ, London
As part of the formal opening of the London Fire Brigade headquarters building on the Albert Embankment, Londons fireboats Massey Shaw

LCC-LFB fireboat Beta III, midstream on River Thames
A side view of the London Fire Brigades fireboat Beta III, stationary and midstream, downstream of Tower Bridge with Wapping wharves in the background

Example of an United States (USA) fireboat
A typical port and harbour fireboat deployed by large United States of America city fire departments. Seen here is the LA City No 2, owned by the Los Angeles City fire department, California

MFB fire float and tug on the River Thames
A Metropolitan Fire Brigade fire float and tug on the River Thames. These composite craft were introduced in 1877 and used until 1900 when they were replaced by fireboats

Drawing of MFB fire float and tug on the River Thames
A drawing of a Metropolitan Fire Brigade fire float and tug heading to a riverside blaze in the distance. The fire float was a fire pump mounted in a barge that could supply water to the land via

LFB fireboat Alpha II and crew on River Thames
The Alpha II fireboat was a self-propelled steam driven fireboat brought into service by the London County Councils London Fire Brigade

LCC-LFB fireboat Beta at Cherry Garden Pier
Fireboat Beta alongside Cherry Garden Pier, Rotherhithe, in the Port of London, downstream from Tower Bridge. The twin funnelled Beta had a large capacity firefighting fitted monitor near its prow

MBW-MFB fire float and tug at drill on River Thames
These fire floats and tugs were composite craft introduced in about 1877. They were replaced by fireboats from 1900

LCC-LFB fireboat Massey Shaw in action
The Massey Shaw fireboat at its first major riverside warehouse fire on the River Thames. The Colonial Wharf fire in Wapping High Street E1 occurred on 27 September 1935

LCC-LFB fireboat Massey Shaw demonstrates pumping
Moored at its Blackfriars river station on the Victoria Embankment, the newly commissioned Massey Shaw fireboat demonstrates its massive pumping capacity by discharging a vast amount of water

Auxiliary London firemen at drill on a fireboat, WW2
Auxiliary London firemen (AFS) under instruction in the use of a rocket-line as part of their fireboat drills and training

Launching London Fire Brigade fireboat Massey Shaw
The Massey Shaw was built in 1935 on the Isle of Wight. It was fitted out with its powerful Merryweather pumps in Greenwich, SE London

London Fire Brigade AFS fireboat on the Thames
An Auxiliary fireboat on patrol in the Port of London with Tower Bridge in the background

LFB fireboat Massey Shaw tackling a warehouse fire
The Massey Shaw fireboat at its first major riverside warehouse fire on the River Thames. The Colonial Wharf fire in Wapping High Street E1 occurred on 27 September 1935

Engine room of LFB fireboat Massey Shaw
London fireboat engineers at work in the engine room of the Massey Shaw. Showing the Port and Starboard engines and various engine and pressure gauges behind the two firefighters

Engine room of London Fire Brigade fireboat
London firefighter engineers at work in the engine room of a fireboat

Fireboat Massey Shaw returning to London after Dunkirk, WW2
Return of the LCC-LFB fireboat Massey Shaw to London after evacuation of Allied forces at Dunkirk

Armed London firemen at Lambeth fireboat pontoon, WW2
Firemen, carrying rifles, disembarking from the Massey Shaw fireboat and marching from the pontoon gangway at Lambeth. Armed firemen crewed the Massey Shaw when she took part in the evacuation of

LFB Massey Shaw fireboat on River Thames, London
Built in 1934 by J Samuel White at Cowes, Isle of Wight, the Massey Shaw cost £ 18, 000 to build. It was stationed at Blackfriars river station when this photograph was taken

LCC-LFB Fireboat Beta III on the River Thames
Fireboat Beta III facing downriver, seen from the River Fire Station at Rotherhithe (Cherry Garden Pier)

Thames Waterman on Massey Shaw fireboat
A Thames Waterman in traditional costume with a fire company badge on his left sleeve, standing on the deck of the LFBs Massey Shaw fireboat

Fireboat in a cradle waiting to be launched, WW2
A fireboat in a cradle waiting to be launched

NFS (London) River Thames Formation control boat, WW2
Interior view of the control room cabin of one of the London River Formations (River Fire Service) fireboats designated as a control unit for major incidents on the River Thames

NFS (London Region) fire float on upper Thames, WW2
A clinker built boat converted into a fireboat and stationed on the upper reaches of the River Thames in the London Region area

NFS (London Region) River Thames Formation, WW2
The River Headquarters crest of the NFS River Thames Formation, which covered the Greater London area of the Thames, and included some eighteen fireboats and assorted fire floats and other tenders

NFS (London Region) fireboat at Grays, near Tilbury, WW2
An NFS fireboat at her moorings, R5Z-TS Exmouth river fire station, Grays near Tilbury, Essex, the furthest easterly river station in the London Region

NFS (London Region) fire float on the Thames, WW2
A motor launch fire float under tow by a fireboat on the River Thames

NFS (London Region) fireboat tender on the Thames, WW2
NFS (London Region) fireboat tender on the River Thames, viewed from Blackfriars river station, Victoria Embankment

NFS (London Region) fireboat on the River Thames, WW2
The London Regional River Service and the fireboat attached to the River fire station 1RU at Battersea Bridge

LCC-LFB self-propelled steam fireboat
Introduced in 1912, one of the shallow draft self-propelled vessels which replaced the early fire tugs

A fireboat tackling a blaze on the River Thames

LCC-LFB fireboat Beta III on sea trials
Civilian marine engineers on the Beta III fireboat during her sea trials prior to being placed in operational service

NFS (London Region) Trailer pumps on bridge buttress, WW2
Firefighters from the NFS River Service (Station R1, Lambeth) placing a trailer pump on an elevated buttress on Vauxhall Bridge to supplement emergency water supplies to fire crews on land

War Weapons Week and London Fire Brigade fireboats, WW2
The London Fire Brigades fireboat Massey Shaw (which took part in the Dunkirk evacuations) and a fire float are moored at Westminster pier whilst their crews are promoting War Weapons Week

Massey Shaw fireboat at Blackfriars river fire station
The Massey Shaw fireboat, launched in 1935, moored alongside her Blackfriars river station, located on the Victoria Embankment, City of London

Massey Shaw fireboat on River Thames, London
The LFBs Massey Shaw fireboat underway on the River Thames, heading under Waterloo Bridge

Massey Shaw fireboat, Victoria Embankment, Blackfriars
The London Fire Brigades fireboat Massey Shaw being stowed with an anchor chain whilst alongside its moorings at the Blackfriars river fire station, its base station

LFB fireboat Gamma II near Brigade HQ - Lambeth
Gamma II was stationed at the Lambeth river fire station (R1) opposite the London Fire Brigade headquarters building on the Albert Embankment, SE1

London Fire Brigade HQ and Lambeth river fire station
The iconic LFB Headquarters building and the original river station on its floating pontoon. The fireboat tender can be seen on the right as it moves up river towards Vauxhall Bridge

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The fireboat has always been a symbol of strength and resilience in the face of danger. From the LCC-LFB fireboat Massey Shaw, stationed in Westminster, London, to the GLC-LFB Fire Hawk, these vessels have played a crucial role in protecting our city from devastating fires. One iconic image that comes to mind is the LCC-LFB Massey Shaw fireboat at Blackfriars. With its powerful hoses pumping water into the flames, it stands as a testament to the bravery and dedication of our firefighters. Butlers Wharf in Bermondsey witnessed an intense battle against a warehouse fire, where the LCC-LFB showcased their expertise using their trusty fireboat. The Cherry Garden river station in SE London also played its part, ensuring swift response times for emergencies along the river. The sight of eight hoses pumping simultaneously on board the Massey Shaw fireboat is awe-inspiring. This vessel has become synonymous with firefighting on the River Thames and continues to be an invaluable asset during emergencies. Not far away at Colonial Wharf in East London, another fierce blaze was met head-on by a determined crew aboard a NFS narrow boat fitted with fire pumps. Their efforts were commendable as they fought tirelessly to bring safety back to this bustling area. Lambeth HQ and Lambeth river station served as vital bases for firefighting operations along this historic waterway. These locations acted as launching points for various vessels including one named Fire-Dart which patrolled diligently along River Thames under London Fire Brigade's watchful eye. As we reflect on these images of brave firefighters battling infernos from their mighty boats underway on turbulent waters, we are reminded once again of their unwavering commitment to keeping our city safe. The legacy of these remarkable vessels lives on through each rescue mission they undertake - proof that heroes truly do exist both on land and sea.