Firefighting Gallery

Fireboat tackling fire at Colonial Wharf, East London

A fireboat tackles a fire at Colonial Wharf, Wapping High Street, East London, 27 September 1935. This was a typical big Thamesside fire of the sort which the London Fire Brigade has tackled for over 100 years. The nine-storey warehouse was full of crude rubber and burned for four days, during which time a number of explosions took place. Sixty pumps, 20 special appliances and three fireboats, manned in all by 600 firefighters, fought the huge blaze: they successfully prevented the fire from spreading to the surrounding warehouses

© London Fire Brigade / Mary Evans Picture Library

IRA bombing of the Houses of Parliament, Westminster

The fire started after the IRA planted an explosive device in Westminster Hall, Houses of Parliament, 17 June 1974. The 20 lb explosive device caused extensive damage and ignited a gas main that caused additional fire damage to the historic building. Although there were no fatalities, a number of people received minor injuries caused by the blast. The picture shows the building in the later stages of the fire, with smoke coming from the annexe roof, and water hoses stretched across the road

© London Fire Brigade / Mary Evans Picture Library