Images Dated 2011 October

LCC-LFB Massey Shaw fireboat at Blackfriars

The Massey Shaw was built in 1935 by the J Samuel White company at Cowes, Isle of Wight. She was built to a London County Council design, and cost around £18, 000 to build. The vessel was named after Eyre Massey Shaw, a former chief of the London Fire Brigade. Seen here is the Massey Shaw laying off her moorings (river station) at Blackfriars on the Victoria Embankment. London

© London Fire Brigade / Mary Evans Picture Library

NFS (London Region) narrow boat fitted with fire pumps

There were 18 river fire stations along the length of the River Thames during WW2. They were used to accommodate the crews on a 24 hour standby to operate the fireboats. In addition the three permanent London Fire Brigade fireboats, including the Massey Shaw, other fireboats and craft were brought into service. Here narrow boats (known locally in London as monkey boats) were equipped with trailer pumps in order to access, and provide water supplies from, the canals that ran north of the River Thames

© London Fire Brigade / Mary Evans Picture Library

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. The two craft would travel side by side. These composite craft were introduced in 1877 and used until 1900 when they were finally replaced by fireboats. The fire float, with its fire pump, could supply water to the land via hoses or direct water onto a blaze from jets mounted on the barge

© London Fire Brigade / Mary Evans Picture Library