| First Registered | August 1995 to July 1996 in Newcastle upon Tyne |
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This is November-zero-four, a Tyne and Wear emergency tender. Notice the radio control at the rear of the vehicle. The rear of the tender. |
| Photograph Date | July 2001 |
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Road Traffic Collision (1999): A car hits a pedestrian on a dull and wet day in the village of Marley Hill, Tyne and Wear. See how the scene developed and how the emergency services responded.
Two Volvo T5’s race to the scene of the serious RTA with lights and sirens on. The road is wet and they have to make sure they don’t cause or become another accident themselves.
At the scene – mayhem. Emergency vehicles have been abandoned to see to casualties, and traffic on the A692 is quite heavy.
G-NAAS is called in to air lift the casualty who has suspected spinal problems. The North East Air Ambulance is available to respond to any incident in the Northumberland, Tyne and Wear, Durham and Cleveland counties. It has landed in between flower beds on a small piece of public land. Police officers help the paramedics.
Below, the view South. The first vehicle is a Land Rover discovery QRU ambulance (Quick Response Unit). Rarely used for transporting patients, it is used to treat them while waiting for a ambulance, or in this case the air ambulance. To it’s right is the Vauxhall Nova left in situ where it skidded to a stop after the impact. To it’s right is a Volvo traffic police car.
The view North after a couple of minutes. Officers begin to cone off the road, erect ‘Police Accident’ signs and tidy up as well as controlling the traffic.
Below, the air ambulance begins to lift off. The sound and down draft are tremendous.
Scrap Yard Fire (2001)
This scrap yard fire on Tyneside sent thick clouds of black smoke into the air as firefighters spent many hours battling to control the blaze. The pillars of smoke could be seen for over 30 miles as 1000 tonnes of scrap caught fire at an industrial estate in Blaydon. 14 fire appliances were used as well as the Tyne and Wear Fire Brigade boat as it bordered the River Tyne.
A police car blocks the road as firefighters tackle the blaze in the background.
Warning signs are erected on neighbouring roads. Fire engines are used to pump water from hydrants to the fire.
Two of the fire engines on scene.
A general view of the scene from one of the approach roads.
A mobile control unit is set up to co-ordinate resources at the scene.
An aerial platform is used to get water on the seat of the fire.
The plumes of black smoke dwarf a fire appliance.
There is still a sense of urgency to qualm the flames even after three hours of fire-fighting.
A firefighter collects equipment from an appliance.
A Dennis pump (yankee-zero-two from Swalwell, the nearest station) shrouded in the thick smoke.
The same engine from the side
Day is turned into night as we look at the blue lights and head lamps of a fire engine through the smoke.
A Dennis Sabre appliance is being used to pump water.
In the scrap yard which is on fire hoses are scattered like spaghetti.
An aerial platform in use to tackle the blaze.
The prevailing wind is doing a good job of sending the smoke in one direction only. The buildings nearby are dampened down to prohibit any new fires starting.
As two fire fighters take a break for refreshments, their colleague continues to tackle the blaze in the background.
The smoke caused problems on the nearby A1 as traffic had to negotiate fog-like conditions. The smoke could be seen 30 miles away. The police helicopter was used for a short time to determine the centre of the blaze using its thermal imaging camera.
Senior fire officers arrive in their unmarked cars. This Vauxhall Astra is fitted with a double blue flashing light on the roof with built in siren.
A less-than-two-week-old Ford Mondeo is also fitted with the blue light and siren cluster. This vehicles belongs to a Fire Safety Officer.
The rear view of the same vehicle.
The view from a few miles away. The smoke is more grey than black now but is still very visible.
The next day roads around the site remain closed.
The smoke has cleared but firefighters continue to dampen down the piles of scrap metal. Fire investigators believe that a short-circuited car battery started the fire.
A Tyne and Wear Fire Brigade appliance with doors and shutters left open as firefighters have jumped out.
The rear view of the same appliance.
| Organisation | North East Ambulance Service |
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| Make and Model | Volvo XC60 |
| Use | Ambulance rapid response vehicle |
| First Registered | March to August 2022 in Northampton |
A North East Ambulance Service Volvo XC60 ambulance rapid response vehicle. Registered in 2022, in green and yellow battenburg livery and carrying NHS branding. |
| Photograph Location | West Denton, Tyne and Wear |
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| Map |  |
| Organisation | North East Ambulance Service |
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| Make and Model | Volvo XC60 |
| Use | Ambulance rapid response vehicle |
| Base | Swalwell fire station |
| First Registered | March to August 2022 in Northampton |
A Volvo XC60 ambulance rapid response vehicle, in high-visibility yellow and green livery. Based at Swalwell fire station. |
| Photograph Location | Swalwell, Tyne and Wear |
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| Map | |
These historic photos dating from around 1971 show the fire brigade responding to a fire call as a crowd gathers on the pavement. They are at a 'persons reported' call where there is information that someone may be trapped in a house fire. Two ambulances have also arrived on scene to deal with any casualties. Furthermore two police cars have also arrived to assist. The scene is at Avenue Road in Gateshead. BBB 22J is the ERF fire engine (in brighter red) ATN 336B is the AEC fire engine, recognised by the non black roof and conical blinker lights. This was always a Fossway engine but must have been in the reserve fleet at the time. It is maroon and parked immediately outside the house. EBB 783 is an Emergency Tender 'Charlie 4' from Pilgrim Street, Newcastle. It is the maroon vehicle parked on the opposite side of the street. The two ambulances are based at Gateshead. WPT 214J is a British Leyland Mini Van from 1971. A second Mini Van is seen in the foreground. From 1969 the Austin and Morris badges were dropped and they were just known as the Mini Van. It is either a 848cc or 998cc version which were cosmetically the same. The vehicles are operated by Durham Constabulary during the short period of time when they covered Gateshead. In 1969 Gateshead county borough police merged into Durham county but just five years later in 1974 Gateshead was taken over by the newly formed Northumbria Police as part of the local authority boundary changes and the formation of the county of Tyne and Wear. |
| Photograph Date | Around 1971 |
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| Photograph Location | Avenue Road, Gateshead |
| Map | |
York Floods (2015)
The following vehicles were seen in York in December 2015 during the flooding response. The River Foss broke its banks after a flood barrier was lifted by the Environment Agency. Unprecedented levels of water breached the pumping control room of the barrier.
Services from out-of-town included: Tyne & Wear, West Midlands, Northumberland and Durham and Darlington.
| Boat Name | The Will |
|---|---|
| Organisation | Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) |
| Use | Lifeboat |
| Base | North Shields, Tyne and Wear |
Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) lifeboat named The Will seen here based at North Shields, Tyne and Wear. |
| Photograph Date | December 2014 |
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| Organisation | Northumbria Police |
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| Make and Model | Vauxhall Nova |
| Powertrain | 1.2 litre |
| First Registered | August 1986 to July 1987 in Newcastle upon Tyne |
Northumbria Police Vauxhall Nova dating from 1986. This car was used as a beat patrol car in the counties of Northumberland and Tyne and Wear. It is the 1.2 litre engine example producing a maximum of 55 horsepower. When being pushed to the limit by a brave driver, it would accelerate to 60 mpis a model of in 14 seconds and go on to a nerve-wracking top speed of 94 mph. Later models saw a wide red stripe added to the sides, with a break for the crest on the front doors. This complemented the existing police box on the roof. The illuminated box could show the word 'stop' on the rear only and of course the blue rotating beacon is mounted on top for maximum visibility. This is a model of the actual vehicle. |
| Photograph Date | March 2015 |
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| Make and Model | Volvo |
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| Base | Newcastle's Elswick fire station (officially called Newcastle West Community Fire Station) |
| Body Builder | JDC |
| First Registered | March to August 2010 in Newcastle |
A Volvo / JDC rescue pump based at Newcastle's Elswick fire station (officially called Newcastle West Community Fire Station). It is operated by Tyne and Wear FRS. |
| Photograph Date | October 2013 |
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| Make and Model | ERF |
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| Body Builder | HCB |
| First Registered | August 1972 to July 1973 in Tynemouth |
This is a ERF / HCB - Angus fire tender. It previously saw service with Tynemouth and Tyne and Wear fire brigades. |
| Photograph Date | June 2011 |
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| Make and Model | Volvo |
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| Use | Fire safety |
| Base | Birtley |
| Body Builder | Emergency One |
| First Registered | September 2001 to February 2002 in Newcastle |
This Volvo/Emergency One fire appliance is used by Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service and is based at Birtley. It carries fire safety adverts produced by schoolchildren on the lockers. |
| Photograph Date | May 2010 |
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| Make and Model | Ford Transit |
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| First Registered | March to August 2007 in Newcastle |
This Ford Transit is used by Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service for hydrant maintenance duties. |
| Photograph Date | May 2010 |
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| Make and Model | Ford Transit |
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| First Registered | March to August 2003 in Reading |
This Ford Transit is used for personnel transportation by Chopwell Young Firefighters in the Tyne and Wear brigade area. Local sponsors are displayed along each side, including The Phoenix Club, Salt and Battery, and Jo Jo’s Balloon Company. |
| Photograph Date | May 2010 |
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| Make and Model | MAN / Marshall Special Vehicles |
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| Use | Prime mover |
| Body Builder | Marshall Special Vehicles |
| First Registered | September 2004 to February 2005 in Bristol |
This is a Prime Mover (PM 162) that is part of the New Dimension fleet. This appliance is assigned to Tyne and Wear and is a MAN / Marshall Special Vehicles, seen here at North Moor station. |
| Photograph Date | May 2010 |
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| Photograph Location | North Moor fire station, Sunderland |
| Map | |
| Make and Model | Dennis Sabre |
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| First Registered | September 2002 to February 2003 in Newcastle |
Here we have a Dennis Sabre appliance with Tyne and Wear. It is exiting the fire station through the rear yard responding to a 999 call. |
| Photograph Date | May 2010 |
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| Make and Model | Renault |
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| First Registered | August 1996 to July 1997 in Newcastle upon Tyne |
This is a Renault / Agloco appliance that is used by the Tyne and Wear Young Firefighters Association. It was donated by Siemens when they closed their nearby industrial fire station. |
| Photograph Date | May 2010 |
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| Make and Model | Vauxhall Astra |
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| First Registered | March to August 2008 in Northampton |
This is a Vauxhall Astra that is used by Tyne and Wear for non-emergency transportation. It is advertising the "Safety Works" initiative where the fire service join a multi-agency programme to allow the public to participate safely in realistic situations illustrating everyday hazards and how to prevent them. |
| Photograph Date | May 2010 |
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| Make and Model | Iveco Ford Euro Fire 150E27 / GB Fire |
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| Use | Turntable ladder |
| First Registered | August 1994 to July 1995 in Newcastle upon Tyne |
This is an Iveco Ford Euro Fire 150E27 with GB Fire bodywork used by the Tyne and Wear Metropolitan Fire Brigade. The turntable ladder has a reach of 30m and incorporates a rescue cage. The rear view of the appliance, call sign Foxtrot Zero Three. The hand controls to operate the ladder can be seen on the rear of the vehicle duplicated on both sides. |
| Photograph Date | June 2006 |
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| Make and Model | Volvo FL6.14 |
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| Body Builder | Emergency One |
| First Registered | August 1999 to February 2000 in Newcastle upon Tyne |
This is a Volvo FL6.14 appliance with Emergency One body work used by Tyne and Wear. |
| Photograph Date | June 2006 |
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| Make and Model | Dennis Sabre |
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| Base | Swalwell Station in Tyne and Wear |
| First Registered | September 2003 to February 2004 in Newcastle |
This is Yankee Zero Two, a Dennis Sabre pump with Excalibur bodywork based at Swalwell Station in Tyne and Wear. |
| Photograph Date | June 2006 |
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| Make and Model | Volvo FL6.18 |
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| Use | Operational support |
| First Registered | August 1996 to July 1997 in Newcastle upon Tyne |
This is Tyne and Wear's Operational Support Unit, built upon a 6X2 Volvo FL6.18 chassis. The rear view of the OSU Victor Zero Five. The appliance carries its own Moffett fork lift truck to enable the cargo to be unloaded. The fork lift truck has its own blue rotating beacon. |
| Photograph Date | June 2006 |
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| Make and Model | Volvo |
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| Body Builder | Emergency One |
| First Registered | September 2001 to February 2002 in Newcastle |
This is another Volvo pump with Emergency One body work used by Tyne and Wear. |
| Photograph Date | June 2006 |
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| Use | Command unit, Incident command |
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This was the oldest fully operational appliance used by the Tyne and Wear Fire Brigade in 2002. Alpha 07 is the mobile incident command unit that is used to co-ordinate a large fire. The appliance dates back to 1980. Here it is with two fire cars that are used by senior officers. It was dealing with a large scrap yard fire. The size of this vehicle can clearly be seen from this picture. Typically, it houses a large array of equipment, including maps, chemical information, emergency lighting and a sophisticated fire ground radio system. Also on this photograph is a Northumbria Police Ford Focus that has closed the road off. |
| Make and Model | Dennis Sabre |
|---|---|
| Base | Washington |
| First Registered | August 1997 to July 1998 in Newcastle upon Tyne |
This is a Tyne and Wear appliance; a Dennis Sabre ML 322A12VGS8. It was based at Washington (Sierra) Station when this photograph was taken in 2000. |
| Photograph Date | 2000 |
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| Photograph Location | Washington (Sierra) station |
| Map | |
| Make and Model | Vauxhall Astra |
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| First Registered | August 2000 to February 2001 in Newcastle upon Tyne for Durham |
This is a Vauxhall Astra estate belonging to the Tyne and Wear Fire Brigade Arson task Force. |
| Photograph Date | April 2001 |
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Below is a side view showing the a livery used by Tyne and Wear. |
| Use | Operational support |
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| First Registered | August 1996 to July 1997 in Newcastle upon Tyne |
This is the rear of Victor Zero Five P183 CNL, Tyne and Wear Fire Brigade's Operational Support Unit. It is actually a detachable fork lift truck, which can be used for moving heavy objects and dangerous containers. |
This is a detailed view of the inside of Tango Zero Six, Tyne and Wear's Salvage Tender. Basically these vehicles carry a whole manner of equipment for almost every possible scenario. Included are such items as a chainsaw and inflatable cushions to lift heavy objects. |
| Make and Model | Dennis SS133 |
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| First Registered | August 1984 to July 1985 in Newcastle upon Tyne |
This vehicle used to be 'foxtrot zero eight' with Tyne & Wear MFB. It is a Dennis SS133 and is used solely for transporting 'foxtrot zero nine', fire boat Tinea. Tinea is a twin-engined Marshall Branson boat that was new in 1990. This boat and trailer combination saw many years service from Walker fire station in Newcastle. |
| Photograph Date | June 2007 |
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| Organisation | London Ambulance Service |
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| Make and Model | Bedford CF |
| First Registered | August 1986 to July 1987 in London South-West |
A blast from the past is this Bedford CF showing the livery of London Ambulance Service. This was never a real London Ambulance Vehicle, it was an ex-Military ambulance from USAF Upper Heyford and purchased for a business supplying ambulances for films and TV, normally running on false London number plates. It has appeared in The Bill, Mr Bean and many others. It was spotted in spring 2005. The rear view, showing the stereotypical shape of an 80's ambulance. |
| Photograph Date | Spring 2005 |
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| Photograph Location | Sunniside, Tyne and Wear |
| Map | |