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Local Notes
A Brief History of Great Yarmouth Fire Brigade
To look after the residents of Edwardian Yarmouth, the Borough Council commenced work on a new Fire and Police Station to the rear of the Town Hall in 1909 with it being extended in 1911.
The station boasted the tallest pole in the country, the Chief Fire Officer lived in a flat above the station itself (some things do change for the better) and had the latest in self propelled steam fire tenders. These were last used at the scene of the fire at ‘Arnolds’ a large department store in town in 1919. They were replaced by Merryweather motor driven tenders.
The Great Yarmouth Fire Brigade not only acquitted itself admirably fighting such major fires as Arnolds and the Scenic Railway at the Pleasure Beach in 1919, Britannia Pier in 1932, the ‘Norfolk Blitz’ in 1941, but also dealt with severe floods in 1931 and 1953 (after which Firefighter Fred Sadd was awarded the George Cross) and the appalling winter of 1963. It is also worth noting that the Great Yarmouth Fire Brigade also took delivery of one of the first 12 Hydraulic Platforms in the country and this vehicle can still be seen at Duxford Museum.
On June 8th 1972 the current fire station seen on the front page of the website was opened having been built at a cost of £146,500 (incidentally the same price as the Breathing Apparatus Chamber to the rear of the station cost to complete, and HALF the cost of the 2002 Scania Water Tender Ladder now designated Yarmouth 47, that’s inflation for you!).
In 1974 the amalgamation of three fire brigades, those of Great Yarmouth, Norwich and Norfolk, together with the transfer of the combined HQ’s and control rooms to Hethersett, Norfolk Fire Service as we know it today was born.
Great Yarmouth Fire Station
The current station has, as mentioned, a Scania Water Tender Ladder (Yarmouth 47), a Mercedes Water Tender (Yarmouth 1), a Mercedes Emergency Tender (Yarmouth 7), and a Hydraulic Platform (Yarmouth 6).
To staff these appliances four watches of 13 personnel (one Sub Officer, two Leading Firefighters and 10 Firefighters per watch) are employed to serve an area that extends from Long Fulans Lane in Hopton, to the First and Last Public House in Ormesby and as far inland as the Pontiac Road House on the A47. Although the ‘specials’ (the E.T. and H.P.) frequently travel much further afield in the course of their work. Old ‘turnout areas’ are likely to vary in the future with the adoption of GPS locators in every fire appliance, with backup from surrounding Retained stations at Great Yarmouth, Gorleston, Martham and Acle.
Unusual risks of the town include the Riparian risks of the river, Offshore companies (which use radioactive sources and explosives), and a major hospital (the James Paget). Whereas the primary life risk used to be the influx of tourists in the summer and the greatly increased number of people sleeping peacefully in the numerous hotels and guest houses, many of these have been converted to bedsits or ‘houses in multiple occupancy’ with different fire regulations covering them and an increase in social issues being noted by firefighters.
Acknowledgement : G.Platford
Green Watch
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