Fireboat Collection

LFDCA-LFB Lambeth HQ and Lambeth river station
A modernised Lambeth river fire station and the new fireboat London Phoenix, seen here from the north bank of the River Thames

LCC-LFB fireboat Massey Shaw, Westminster, London
A publicity photograph of the Massey Shaw fireboat with the Houses of Parliament in the background, used by the London County Council to promote the London Fire Brigade in its publications

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

GLC-LFB Fire boat - Fire Hawk
Entering service in February 1976, the Fire Hawk was built by Watercraft of Shoreham at a cost of £ 60, 000. Measuring 45 feet in length, 13.5 inch beam and with a 3.5 foot draft

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

Massey Shaw fireboat on the River Thames with the Houses of Parliament in the background

LCC-MFB Cherry Garden river fire station, SE London
Built by the London County Council, Cherry Garden river fire station was located at Cherry Garden Street in Bermondsey. It was one of four Metropolitan Fire Brigade river stations and, from 1904

Fireboat Massey Shaw with eight hoses pumping

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

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

Massey Shaw fireboat in action, River Thames, London
The London Fire Brigades Massey Shaw fireboat in action with hoses spraying, on the River Thames near the Thames Barrier at Woolwich, with firefighters on deck

Fireboat Fire-Dart, River Thames
Fireboat Fire-Dart on the River Thames

London Fire Brigade fireboat Massey Shaw underway
The Massey Shaw fireboat nearing her berth at Blackfriars on the Victoria Embankment, London

LCC-MFB Battersea Bridge river fire station, SW8
Built by the London County Council, Battersea Bridge river station was located by Battersea Bridge on the River Thames. It was one of four Metropolitan Fire Brigade river stations and, from 1904

Massey Shaw fireboat on the River Thames with firefighters standing to attention on deck

Massey Shaw fireboat 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

New York City, Brooklyn, Pier 66 Maritime, the Lightship Frying Pan Bar & Grill and the John J. Harvey fireboat
2005-303816-01

View of HMS London sailing beneath Tower Bridge, London, 1988
View of the warship HMS London sailing beneath Tower Bridge, Stepney, London, 1988. a fireboat sprays fountains of water into the air in the foreground

Misty morning, Milford Sound New Zealand, boat in the water
Vintage 19th century photograph: misty morning, Milford Sound New Zealand, boat in the water

LFB fireboat Delta II on the River Thames, London. Date: circa 1920s

London Fire Brigade fireboat Massey Shaw underway
The Massey Shaw fireboat nearing her berth at Blackfriars on the Victoria Embankment, London. Date: 1938

London Fire Brigade firemen on a fireboat, River Thames
London Fire Brigade firemen operating a hosepipe on a fireboat on the River Thames, with St Pauls Cathedral in the background. Date: circa 1940s

The firefloat Delta II, 1912. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
The firefloat Delta II, 1912

Fire boat David Scannell. Equipped with Jackson turbine pumps manufactured by the Byron Jackson Iron Works, Berkeley, California, USA

A fireboat passes under Southwark Bridge during the Thames Festival 4
Every year, the Thames Festival brings Londons great river to life with a month-long season of river-related events: art, music, open days, family events, talks, walks and boats

Off-shore oil rig surrounded by sailing fireboat and flying helicopter, underwater cross-section depicting the rigs foundations

Massey Shaw fireboat, River Thames, London
The London Fire Brigades Massey Shaw fireboat with two firefighters on deck operating the hoses

Scene of whale rescue attempt, River Thames, in which a Northern Bottlenose Whale was lost

LCC-LFB Ship fire on SS Leopard, Port of London
A fire crew, rigged in Proto one-hour oxygen breathing apparatus sets, descend into the smoking hold of the SS Leopard. The fire had broken out deep inside the vessels hold

LCC-LFB Massey Shaw fireboat, Blackfriars, London
Tied up at her Blackfriars moorings, the Massey Shaw fireboat gives a demonstration of her fire power from her Merryweather pumps

LCC-LFB fireboat Gamma II on River Thames
Fireboat Gamma II and crew, mid-stream on the River Thames in central London

LCC-LFB fireboat Gamma II with monitor in use at drill
The counter-weighted monitor of a London Fire Brigade fireboat in use whilst the fireboat is moored near Hungerford Bridge on the River Thames

LFB fireboat Beta II at Cherry Garden Pier
LCC-LFB fireboat Beta II (the sister craft to fireboat Beta) moored off its fire station at Cherry Garden Pier, Rotherhithe, SE London

Fireman from Massey Shaw reunited with family, WW2
A London fireman, who volunteered to crew the London Fire Brigades fireboat Massey Shaw, is reunited with his daughter after returning from the Dunkirk evacuations of late May and early June 1940

Armed London fireman reunited with family, WW2
A London fireman, who volunteered to crew the London Fire Brigades fireboat Massey Shaw, is reunited with his wife and daughter after returning from the Dunkirk evacuations in which the Massey Shaw

Fireboat Massey Shaw returning after Dunkirk, WW2
Crowds on the Albert Embankment greeting the returning London Fire Brigade fireboat Massey Shaw after it took part in the Dunkirk evacuation of Allied forces

LCC-LFB fireboats using monitors on the Thames, WW2
Auxiliary and regular firefighters getting monitors and jets of water to work from fireboats and a Thames barge near Westminster Bridge, adjacent to the Houses of Parliament

MFB fire float and tug with river firemen
A Metropolitan Fire Brigade fire float and tug with river firemen. These composite craft were introduced in 1877 by Captain Eyre Massey Shaw, Chief Fire Officer of the MFB

New Yorker fireboat at Battery landing, New York City, USA. Date: circa 1905

LFB fireboat in action outside County Hall, London
A London Fire Brigade fireboat in action on the River Thames outside County Hall, London

Massey Shaw fireboat with crew, River Thames, London
The London Fire Brigades Massey Shaw fireboat with five firefighters on deck behind the hose, two of them with medals on their uniforms

Massey Shaw fireboat, St Katharines Dock, East London
The London Fire Brigades Massey Shaw fireboat on the River Thames at St Katharines Dock, East London, with the Dickens Inn on the right

Blitz in London -- oil tank fire, Thames Haven, WW2
Blitz in London -- oil tank fire, Thames Haven, near Thurrock, Essex, 8 September 1940. Two fire floats of the Essex Fire Brigade moored alongside a jetty

LFB fireboat AFB2, River Thames, Pool of London
LFB fireboat AFB2 on the River Thames, Pool of London, with Tower Bridge in the distance

Massey Shaw fireboat, River Thames, London
The London Fire Brigades Massey Shaw fireboat with two firefighters on deck operating the hoses

Massey Shaw fireboat in action, River Thames, London
The London Fire Brigades Massey Shaw fireboat in action with hoses spraying, on the River Thames near the Thames Barrier at Woolwich, with firefighters on deck

Massey Shaw fireboat at work on the River Thames, with a firefighter directing a hose onto a building

Massey Shaw fireboat launch
Scene at the launch of the Massey Shaw fireboat. Date: 1935

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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.