Firefighters Collection

Rank badges of the National Fire Service from Chief Regional Officer to Leading Fireman. September 1941

Heroic fireman rescuing girl from fire
Heroic fireman rescuing a girl from a fire

Heroic fireman rescuing girl from fire
Heroic fireman rescuing a girl from a fire. Date: 19th century

Firefighters on a tea break after fire St Katherines Dock
London firefighters (with cork helmets) and Auxiliary Fire Service firefighters (with tin hats and AFS badges on their tunics)

Firefighters working at scene of pub fire, SE London
Firefighters working at scene of pub fire, Eltham, SE London

Firefighters and hoses, LFB annual review, Lambeth HQ LFB150
London firefighters from East London demonstrating mass jets during the Annual Review display at the Brigades headquarters. Lambeth, SE1

Firefighter during hook ladder practice

Bomb damage and crater, Petherton Road, London, WW2
Panoramic view of extensive bomb damage and a crater in Petherton Road, North London, 2 July 1944. A salvage operation took place, pumping out flooded basements

Firefighters in action, Eagle Street, London WC1
Firefighters in action at a fire in Eagle Street, London WC1, 0738 hrs, 9 June 1955. In the initial stages an attempt was made to take a line of hose into the first floor via a loading bay door

Firefighters standing by during the Blitz, London in WWII LFB150
Firefighters standing by during the Blitz, London -- in the early hours of the morning, after a night of bombing

Bomb damage in Brampton Road, Bexleyheath, WW2
Panoramic view of extensive bomb damage in Brampton Road, Bexleyheath, Kent, 14 November 1944, with ambulances ready to remove casualties from the scene

LCC-LFB Tooley Street fire station and its crews
Built in 1879, and located at 165 Tooley Street, this station remained operational until 1928 when the new Dockhead fire station was opened and the engines and crews transferred there

Bomb damage in Kilgour Road, SE London, WW2
Panoramic view of bomb damage in Kilgour Road, SE London, 18 November 1944. Rubble and debris can be seen on both sides of the road

Fire Station Billiards Room

Croydon Fire Brigade, South Norwood station
The firefighters of the Croydon Fire Brigade serving at South Norwood station, South Norwood High Street, together with their horse drawn manual fire engine

Blitz in London -- St Bride Street, Farringdon Street, WW2
Blitz in London -- St Bride Street and Farringdon Street, with firefighters at work in a smoky atmosphere and pedestrians walking by

Blitz in London -- ambulance at Ladywell, Lewisham, WW2
Blitz in London -- an ambulance and rescue workers in the Ladywell area of Lewisham, SE13, where houses were demolished by a parachute bomb, 18 September 1940

Blitz in Plymouth -- St Andrews Parish Church, WW2
Blitz in Plymouth -- the smouldering remains of St Andrews Parish Church, bombed and badly damaged in March 1941. The church was restored, and reconsecrated in November 1957

LCC-LFB Warehouse fire, Butlers Wharf, Bermondsey
A major docklands fire at Butlers Wharf, Bermondsey, SE London. It happened during a particularly cold spell for March. The attack on the fire by a large number of firefighters

LCC-LFB Serious house fire in Notting Hill
Firefighters using the 50 foot wheeled escape ladder to gain access to the upper floors of this terraced house affected by a serious blaze in Notting Hill, West London

LCC-LFB Recruit fireman training at Brigade HQ, SE1
During the 1950s recruit firefighters were trained at the Brigade Headquarters, Lambeth. Here a fireman is undertaking a hook ladder drill on the stations nine-storey drill tower

LCC-MFB firefighters at West Hampstead fire station
Station 20 was West Hampstead fire station, opened in 1901 at 325 West End Road. The firemen are pictured with their horse drawn steam fire engine on the forecourt of the station

Bedford Heavy Unit in the NFS (London Region)
About 1000 of the pumps were built on a Bedford chassis and most were capable of pumping water at 700 gallons per minute. Here a heavy unit and crew are undertaking hose drills at Lambeth

Blitz in London -- Regulars and Auxiliaries side by side
Regular London firefighters side by side with their Auxiliary (AFS) counterparts at Tottenham fire station. The building next door is Tottenham Town Hall

Blitz in London -- Whitechapel Fire Station
Whitechapel Fire Station in Whitechapel Road having suffered heavy blast damage following a bombing raid on 8 September 1940

Tower Bridge jams in summer heat
Tower Bridge, London, jams when the metal expands in the summer heat on 2 July 1968. The bridge is closed for two hours while firefighters cool it down with their hoses

LCC-MFB Red Cross Street fire station and engine, London LFB150
Red Cross Street fire station, City of London, built by the London County Council (LCC) and opened in 1900. It was one of four fire stations (plus a river station at Blackfriars)

Major fire in Wandsworth Road, Clapham SW8
London firefighters and the London Salvage Corps (in the long coats) at the scene of a fire involving shops and dwellings in Wandsworth Road, Clapham, SW8, on 9 September 1959

AFS women training, Highgate, London, WW2
AFS (Auxiliary Fire Service) women training in Highgate, North London, in July 1942

Trent Park Teacher Training College, North London (later part of Middlesex University). Being remote from road access and water supply

Firefighters in display at Lambeth HQ, London
Firefighters in a display at Lambeth HQ, London, on 28 July 1937, following a presentation of certificates for bravery by Mr E Cruse, Chairman of the London Fire Brigade Committee

Blitz in London -- Balham High Road, WW2
Blitz in London -- a bus in a bomb crater over an underground station in Balham High Road, SW London, 14 October 1940

Firefighters on parade in front of their appliance during a visit by Queen Elizabeth II to the Headquarters of the London Fire Brigade, Lambeth

LCC-LFB Fire display at Brigade HQ Southwark
The London Fire Brigade encouraged, for very many years, a good public image by opening its doors to the public to special fire brigade displays

LCC-LFB Cannon Street fire station, City of London
Cannon Street fire station was opened in 1906. Seen here are its three appliances on the station forecourt. Fire brigade horses had now been replaced by motorised fire appliances

LCC-LFB Warehouse fire, Butlers Wharf, Bermondsey
A major docklands fire at Butlers Wharf, Bermondsey, SE London. It happened during a particularly cold spell for March. The attack on the fire by a large number of firefighters

LCC-LFB Recruit firefighters training at Brigade HQ SE1
During the 1950s recruit firefighters were trained at the Brigade Headquarters in Lambeth. Here they are undertaking hook ladder drills on the stations nine-storey drill tower

Firefighters at the scene of a fire, Wildcroft Manor
Firefighters at the scene of a fire at Wildcroft Manor, Putney Heath, SW London

Croydon Fire Brigade at Brigade HQ, Croydon Town
The horse drawn steam pump form Croydon fire station. This was one of three stations in the Croydon Fire Brigade, the other two being Thornton Heath and South Norwood

LCC-LFB Dennis motorised Hatfield fire engine
LCC-London Fire Brigade, Dennis motorised Hatfield fire engine with crew

LCC-LFB Bishopsgate fire station, City of London
Bishopsgate fire station, located at 162 Bishopsgate, City of London, 10 July 1904, showing the combination of horse drawn and mechanised fire engines

AFS despatch rider and messenger, WW2
An AFS (Auxiliary Fire Service) despatch rider and messenger on a motorbike at an LFS sub-station during the Second World War

NFS (London Region) Pimlico V1 bombing attack, WW2
The aftermath of a V1 flying bomb attack in Winchester Street, Pimlico. NFS firefighters join other rescue workers at the scene

NFS firefighter at a training camp, WW2
With a dramatic reduction in enemy attacks on London after the Blitz (1940-41) firemen and firewomen had to be kept gainfully employed and a high level of fitness and preparedness maintained

Traffic congestion, Covent Garden, London WC2
Traffic congestion in the Covent Garden area, London WC2, showing a view along Henrietta Street from the corner of Bedford Street during the morning of 26 March 1959

Blitz in London -- turntable ladder in operation, WW2
Blitz in London -- turntable ladder in operation, with firefighter and hose

Blitz in London - AFS firefighter, WW2
Blitz in London - a smiling AFS firefighter, a former Smithfield meat porter named Eddie

Petrol station, Old Brompton Road, London SW7
Brew Brothers petrol station in Old Brompton Road, London SW7, where a fire and explosion occurred in a basement store, 20 July 1957

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"Unsung Heroes: Firefighters Saving Lives and Braving Flames" In a daring rescue, a heroic fireman risks his life to save a young girl from the clutches of a raging inferno. Amidst the chaos and danger, another brave firefighter emerges as he fearlessly rescues a little girl trapped in the midst of a devastating fire. After battling flames at St Katherines Dock, these tireless firefighters take a well-deserved tea break, recharging their spirits for future challenges. Remnants of war: A poignant image captures bomb damage on Brampton Road in Bexleyheath during World War II, showcasing firefighters' unwavering commitment to protecting lives and property. The London Fire Brigade's annual review showcases dedicated firefighters wielding hoses with precision during an intense training session at Lambeth HQ LFB150. Working tirelessly at the scene of a pub fire in Southeast London, these courageous firefighters demonstrate their unwavering determination to keep communities safe. Echoes of history: Kilgour Road bears witness to bomb damage suffered during World War II while valiant firefighters risked everything to protect their city. The Bedford Heavy Unit stands ready as part of the National Fire Service (London Region), exemplifying the strength and resilience embodied by firefighting teams across generations. Captured in action on Eagle Street in London WC1, these fearless heroes battle against towering flames with unmatched bravery and skill. Standing strong amidst the Blitz bombings during World War II, steadfast firefighters remain vigilant guardians watching over London's safety - LFB150 commemorates their dedication and sacrifice. Amidst wartime chaos in Ladywell, Lewisham, this powerful image reveals an ambulance providing aid while nearby firefighters stand ready for any emergency that may arise - reminding us that heroes come from all walks of life during times of crisis.