Fireboat Collection (#2)

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

Fire at Colonial Wharf, Wapping, East London, in September 1935, with billowing black smoke on the right. On the left, firefighters train their hoses from a fireboat on the River Thames. Date: 1935

Massey Shaw fireboat in action, with men directing the large hose

Operating the London Fire Brigades fireboat Massey Shaw below decks Date: circa late 1930s

The launch of the LFB Fireboat Massey Shaw at Cowes, officially launched by Mrs Morris, wife of the LFB Chief Major C C B Morris. Date: 1935

LFB Fireboat attending a fire at Colonial Wharf
A fireboat tackles a fire at Colonial Wharf. A typical big Thameside fire of the sort which the London fire Brigade had tackled over 100 years: Colonial Wharf, Wapping High Street, E1

Massey Shaw fireboat under repair

Massey Shaw fireboat on the River Thames -- aerial view with men working on deck

Fireboat Massey Shaw with eight hoses pumping. Date: 1935

London Fire Brigade fireboats on the Thames
London Fire Brigade fireboats on the River Thames

4th of July, Lake Union, Seattle, Washington, celebration, fireboat, pleasureboats
WA, Seattle, Lake Union, 4th of July

Fire at Colonial Wharf, Wapping, East London, in September 1935, with billowing black smoke on the right. On the left, firefighters train their hoses from a fireboat on the River Thames

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

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 launch
Scene at the launch of the Massey Shaw fireboat

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 under repair

LFB Fireboat attending a fire at Colonial Wharf
A fireboat tackles a fire at Colonial Wharf. A typical big Thameside fire of the sort which the London fire Brigade had tackled over 100 years: Colonial Wharf, Wapping High Street, E1

The launch of the LFB Fireboat Massey Shaw at Cowes, officially launched by Mrs Morris, wife of the LFB Chief Major C C B Morris

Massey Shaw fireboat in action, with men directing the large hose

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

Operating the London Fire Brigades fireboat Massey Shaw below decks

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

Lambeth Fireboat Station

Exercise Tideway at the Thames Barrier, Woolwich, SE London

Fireboat attending a fire in Battersea
A fireboat attending a fire in Battersea, SW London

LCC-LFB Fireboat Alpha, River Thames
From 1912 the previously used rafts, towed by tugs, were replaced by Londons first fireboats. These steam driven self-propelled shallow draught craft were based on the Royal Navy gunboats

Pontoon and fireboat return

LCC-LFB First fireboats in the London Fire Brigade
A fire float and tug were first introduced in 1877 and used until 1900 when they were replaced by shallow draft fireboats

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

LCC-LFB Royal visit by HRH Prince Philip Lambeth
Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, on an informal visit to Brigade headquarters. Here he is visiting the Lambeth River fire station on the Albert Embankment, SE1

London Fire Brigade fireboat on the River Thames
A London Fire Brigade fireboat on the River Thames

LCC-LFB Massey Shaw fireboat, Greenwich, SE London
The Massey Shaw fireboat was built in 1935 on the Isle of Wight, and fitted out with powerful Merryweather pumps in Greenwich, SE London

LCC-LFB fireboat fleet at Lambeth HQ, London
As part of the formal opening of the London Fire Brigade headquarters building on the Albert Embankment, Londons fireboats Massey Shaw

LCC-LFB fireboat Beta III, midstream on River Thames
A side view of the London Fire Brigades fireboat Beta III, stationary and midstream, downstream of Tower Bridge with Wapping wharves in the background

Example of an United States (USA) fireboat
A typical port and harbour fireboat deployed by large United States of America city fire departments. Seen here is the LA City No 2, owned by the Los Angeles City fire department, California

MFB fire float and tug on the River Thames
A Metropolitan Fire Brigade fire float and tug on the River Thames. These composite craft were introduced in 1877 and used until 1900 when they were replaced by fireboats

Drawing of MFB fire float and tug on the River Thames
A drawing of a Metropolitan Fire Brigade fire float and tug heading to a riverside blaze in the distance. The fire float was a fire pump mounted in a barge that could supply water to the land via

LFB fireboat Alpha II and crew on River Thames
The Alpha II fireboat was a self-propelled steam driven fireboat brought into service by the London County Councils London Fire Brigade

LCC-LFB fireboat Beta at Cherry Garden Pier
Fireboat Beta alongside Cherry Garden Pier, Rotherhithe, in the Port of London, downstream from Tower Bridge. The twin funnelled Beta had a large capacity firefighting fitted monitor near its prow

MBW-MFB fire float and tug at drill on River Thames
These fire floats and tugs were composite craft introduced in about 1877. They were replaced by fireboats from 1900

LCC-LFB fireboat Massey Shaw in action
The Massey Shaw fireboat at its first major riverside warehouse fire on the River Thames. The Colonial Wharf fire in Wapping High Street E1 occurred on 27 September 1935

LCC-LFB fireboat Massey Shaw 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

Auxiliary London firemen at drill on a fireboat, WW2
Auxiliary London firemen (AFS) under instruction in the use of a rocket-line as part of their fireboat drills and training

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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.