Boats and other waterborne craft used for firefighting purposes
Custom built fire boats Tanner and Errington. These two fire boats were new in 2023 to replace two retired vessels berthed at Lambeth. They have flat bottoms so can be beached if required. They carry two water monitors and have a top speed of 51 mph.
River Mersey Community Fire and Rescue Station along with a fast rib fire boat
YX11 OJV
Humberside Fire and Rescue Service
Toyota Hilux
Water Rescue Boat Unit
London Fire Brigade
Massey Shaw
This vessel is now in preservation. It was launched in 1935 and used by the LFB until 1971. Having led an amazing life, she was involved in fighting fire in The Blitz on London during World War II as well as bringing troops back from Dunkirk. More recently, in 2002 and 2004, Suggs (from Madness) and the Salvage Squad helped restore Massey Shaw back to her former glory. She is now used for ceremonial duties and is run as an educational trust.
London Fire Brigade
Alnmaritec landing craft
Fireflash and Firedart in action on the River Thames next to their Lambeth base.
North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service’s Humber rib in action
A Fire and Rescue boat that is moored on the Tyne in Newcastle. Tyne and Wear FRS firefighters from the nearby Fossway station man the boat.
The rear.
YX11 OHK A Toyota Hilux tows a fire and rescue boat. The minimally-marked blue light vehicle is part of Humberside FRS’s fleet.
The rear view of the car and trailer combination.
Lincolnshire FRS use this rib for water rescue work. Four firefighters (one in the water) are rescuing a man during a demonstration exercise.
As they return to shore and the casualty is attended to, one firefighter signals the direction of travel and another operates the steering and engine from the rear.
This Firefly hovercraft is used by Avon Fire and Rescue Service. based at Weston-super-Mare fire station. It is designed for use along the shoreline between Brean Down and Sand Bay.
The craft is piloted from the front whilst at the rear there are three dedicated seats fro additional crew members.
The rear view of the hovercraft showing the rudders which provide the directional control.
As well as being fitted with blue lights there are a number of search lights which can be used during night time rescues.
WX57 TKA This Nissan Navara is used to tow the hovercraft by trailer should it be required at an inland incident such as a flood.
The rear view showing the over sized trailer.
This pair of jet skis belong to Merseyside FRS and form part of their specialist Water Rescue team.
DK56 JXM is a Mercedes Benz Sprinter van that is used by Merseyside FRS as a water rescue unit. Some of the equipment it carries is shown, including a rigid inflatable boat. A trailer can be attached to tow two jet skis.
The Merseyside FRS Marine Rescue team in action on the River Mersey.
Nottinghamshire FRS operate this single-engined Rib for water rescues. It is fitted with one seat for the driver and no audible or visual warning equipment.
This is one of two hovercraft that Gloucestershire FRS operate. New in 2008, they are transported on trailers behind marked 4×4 fire cars. They were fully paid for by Severn Trent Water.
The rear view of the go-anywhere craft. The top speed of 45 mph will help to rescue people, particularly in the flood-prone areas.
This photograph shows a fire boat practicing the rescue of a team member. They are using a specially designed mat that is placed under the person in the water, and then rolled up to lift them into the boat.
Massey Shaw is a very special fire boat moored at London Fire Brigade’s Lambeth headquarters. It is the oldest original operating fire boat in Europe (notice the single blue rotating beacon on top of the cabin). It was built in 1935 and retired in 1971, but is still used for pumping displays today. It was more recently made famous by appearing on Channel 4’s ‘Salvage Squad’ programme in January 2004.
This is another of LFB’s boats, Firedart, at Lambeth.
The port and stern view of two identical LFB boats.
The NYF&R team prepare the fire boat for launch into the River Ouse at York.
A look here at the dashboard of the fire boat. It is fitted with a sophisticated moving mapping system and global positioning system, as well as radios and a mobile telephone. The boats position can be found to a few meters, so you’ll never be lost!
One of the NYF&R Landrovers has winched the boat and trailer into the river. If the situation allows, the Landrover can reverse the boat down the slipway as an alternative means of launching (shown below).
The fire crew can just about be seen here through the undergrowth. They are on a training exercise a couple of miles from York.
The smaller red fire boat practices towing the larger yellow boat. This could easily be a member of the public who’s engine has failed for some reason. Notice the yellow boat’s engines are out of the water.
Both boats can be seen here as the crew of the yellow boat unties the ropes after the successful tow.
The crew take a breather for a debrief. There is no chance of you missing this bright yellow boat easily!
A picture of the new fire boat on it’s trailer. It is towed by a red fire Landrover.
This is the new NYF&R fire boat. It was bought in November 01 and is based at the York station. The older orange RIB (below) is still being kept. Selected fire-fighters are trained on the boat, but still answer calls in the engines most of the time. This picture shows a ‘fly-past’ for me with the blue flashing lights on (top rear of boat).
North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue’s Fire Boat.
The Landrover slowly lowers the boat into the River Ouse for a training session.
Continuing to lower the boat.
The 4×4 Landrover easily copes with the 45 degree slope on wet cobbles.