The Fire Brigade Museum

30/05/2026

ADOPT A FIRE ENGINE!

Looking for an awesome Birthday/Anniversary/Retirement gift? (Other celebration events are available)

Then why not adopt a Fire Engine!

Each adoption receives:

🚒 A personalised Certificate of adoption
🚒 Entry onto the Fire Engine adopter Role call
🚒 A mug featuring your adopted Fire Engine
🚒 A post card with information about your adopted fire engine
🚒 Invitation to an adopter visit event

Adopting a Panda or a Tiger is a great idea but they aren’t fitted with Two Tone Horns or a Bell for you to use are they ? 🐼🐯🚒🔔📯💥😆

Importantly you’ll be directly assisting in the preservation of these vehicles for future generations, while providing much needed assistance to our 999 workers who are battling mental illness and dying by su***de in increasing numbers.

Head to our website to purchase your adoption today! https://www.firebrigademuseum.com/shop

(Adoption valid for 1 calendar year from purchase, images may vary from those shown)

As you can see we have already had some notable adopters…..😬😜

26/05/2026

Today marks the 86th anniversary of the commencement of Operation Dynamo.

At 19:00 on 26th May 1940 Prime Minister Winston Churchill gave the order to initiate Operation Dynamo, the coordinated effort to remove nearly 400,000 members of the British Expeditionary Force along with allies who had been encircled at Dunkirk, France by the advancing German Army.

An order had previously been given to commandeer as many private leisure boats and small craft as possible to sail to Dunkirk to complete the mission.

Among the Flotilla of ‘Little ships’ was the London Fire Brigade Fire Boat Massey Shaw Fireboat, crewed by London Firemen in this mission.

The evacuation took place over a 10 day period with the rear guard being evacuated of 4th June.

In total 338,226 soldiers were brought back to England.

68,000 casualties were left in France, of those 3500 were killed and 13,503 were wounded. The remainder were taken prisoner.

Significant losses were also inflicted of Royal Navy vessels and RAF aircraft.

The evacuation cost Great Britain most of its mechanised armour and vehicles.

Great Britain was immediately put into a state of alert for an imminent invasion by the German Army.

On 4th June 1940 Winston Churchill addressed the House of Commons in relation to the Dunkirk evacuation:

‘We must be very careful not to assign to this deliverance the attributes of a victory. Wars are not won by evacuations’

He went on to deliver one of his most famous quotes in this speech ‘we shall fight them on the beaches’.

23/05/2026

Today we remember Firefighter Richard Jenkins of South Wales Fire and Rescue Service on the 22nd Anniversary of his death at.

Shortly after 01:00 on 23rd May 2004 South Wales Fire and Rescue Fire control received a 999 call reporting a fire in a derelict Bingo Hall in Bishopston Road in Cardiff.

Fire control immediately mobilised the pre determined attendance from Ely and Barry Fire stations.

On arrival crews observed smoke issuing from the property, indicating a fire in progress. Unbeknown to the Firefighters, this fire had been started deliberately and there were 2 seats of fire.

Ff Jenkins was tasked as ‘number 1’ of the 2 Ff Breathing Apparatus (BA) team. The team effected entry into the lobby area of the former Bingo Hall, taking with them a Firefighting hose line.

Unseen by the crew, a Gas cylinder had been placed at height in the premises which had been exposed to heat and flame prior to arrival of the fire service.

Shortly after the BA team entered the gas cylinder exploded in proximity to the BA team with Ff Jenkins taking the brunt of the explosion by nature of his position.

The BA team were brought to safety by colleagues, where it was discovered that Ff Jenkins was in cardiac arrest. Despite the best efforts of colleagues and Ambulance personnel, Richard was pronounced deceased at the scene.

3 individuals were arrested and charged with a range of offences relating to arson and the death of Richard. 2 were convicted of his manslaughter and sentenced to 10 years in prison.

At the time of his death Richard was only 29 years of age, leaving behind 2 young children and his Widow.

May he rest in eternal peace

23/05/2026

We’re out at our first event of 2026 ! Come and visit us as the Fawley Parish-Council Emergency services day!

Bring a hat and lots of water because it’s scorchio!

22/05/2026

Today we remember the 22 people who were murdered in a terrorist attack at Manchester Arena.

On 22nd May 2017 a concert featuring singer Ariana Grande took place at the Manchester Arena,Hunts Bank, Manchester, M3.

The concert finished at 22:30, and the 14,200 attendees began leaving the arena shortly after. As they exited through the city room entrance area, a terrorist detonated a 30kg nail bomb concealed in a bag.

22 people were killed in the attack with the youngest victim being only 8 years old. A further 250 people were injured.

The attack have rise to the Terrorism Protection of Property Act 2025, known as Martyn’s Law named after Mr Martyn Hett who was one of the victims of the attack and in close proximity to the device when it exploded.

The Act received Royal Ascent on 3rd April 2025 and came into force on 10th April 2026.

We think if those who perished in this attack and send our deepest respects to their families.

We think of the 999 workers who attended the incident who more than likely still carry those images with them today.

May the victims rest in eternal peace.

21/05/2026

21/05/2026

Work continues on the Jersey Fire Brigade Dennis F8. Team members are carefully peeling away the metal skin of the body to assess the work required.

It was interesting to see the original red colour exposed under metal trim.

Needless to say many years of being washed daily as fire appliances traditionally are has taken its toll on the wooden frame and continues to confirm our assessment of a total rebuild.

The original frame gives us a really useful pattern to work with, ensuring she is restored as close to original specifications as possible.

Oh and we’ve got plenty of sawdust too 🪚💨🚒😜

21/05/2026

Today we remember Fireman Roderick McLeod of Northern Fire Brigade (now Scottish Fire and Rescue Service) on the 45th anniversary of his death.

Shortly before 18:00 on 21st May 1981 Northern Fire Brigade control recieved a 999 call reporting ‘fire’ Aberchalder Lodge, Invagerry, a guest house in the Highlands of Scotland.

The nearby Retained station of Fort Augustus was mobilised along with 2 appliances from Inverness and a 4th from Fort William.

On arrival, the premises was discovered to be well alight. Firefighting and salvage operations were immediately commenced.

By around 20:00 the fire had been effectively extinguished with damping down and turning over operations taking place.

Fireman McLeod and Station Officer Donald Craig were on the ground floor utilising a jet to damp down hotspots.

Without warning an internal structural collapse occurred, bring the entire first floor crashing down onto the ground floor. Stn/O Craig was struck by debris which threw him out of the door and to relative safety, albeit that his legs we partially buried by debris.

Stn/O Craig was able to release himself,rushing to summon assistance for Fm McLeod.

Crews began digging through the debris with their bare hands until hand tools were brought in.

Fireman McLeod was discovered pinned down by structural beams which despite their best efforts could not be moved by hand by Firemen.

Hydraulic lifting equipment was used to lift the beams and release Fm McLeod. Despite the best efforts of colleagues and a Doctor to resuscitate Fm McLeod, he was pronounced deceased at the scene.

Investigations concluded that the likely cause of the fire was an electrical fault under flooring on the first floor, resulting in a slow burn fire.

Inspections into the structure of the 100 year old building discovered that that the joist construction methods used were not standard for the position in the building, being inherently weaker than would be expected,leading to structural collapse far earlier than could be reasonably anticipated.

Roderick McLeod was 25 years of age at the time of his death,leaving behind a widow.

May he continue to rest in eternal peace

20/05/2026

Beware ! Ensure your vulnerable family/friends/neighbours don’t become victims of such scams

🚨 A Greater Manchester resident has received an email claiming they will receive a home visit to check smoke alarms are fitted and working, with a £500 charge for homes without a working alarm.

This is a scam. We do not charge for our home fire safety visits (Home Fire Safety Assessments) or for any smoke alarms we fit as part of the visits.

If you have received a similar email, please report to Citizens Advice consumer helpline: 0808 223 1133

For personalised home fire safety advice and to check whether you are eligible for a Home Fire Safety Assessment, visit https://orlo.uk/DiFGV

17/05/2026