London Fire Brigade in 1900

The Fire Brigade was extremely important in 1900 London, the number of journeys made in a year by its fire-engines and hose-vans averaging over 30,000, the distances run being 70,000 miles.

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Its headquarters were in Southwark Street; a handsome building, in the midst of warehouses, with lofty arched gateway, and, towering aloft, a galleried look-out minaret.

To the right, on entering, were the waiting-rooms, where day and night, unceasingly, some one was on the watch for the telephone or telegraph to give the signal that the Brigade was "wanted."

In one of these rooms hung the "Roll of Honour," giving the names of heroes of the Brigade who had died on duty, the place of the fire, and the date; while in another apartment was to be seen a sad but practical illustration of how these brave men died - a collection of relics, shreds of burnt clothing, helmets dented and bruised, an axe, and a piece of rope charred and frayed.

In the stables a certain number of horses were kept ready harnessed throughout the twenty-four hours.

To prevent their necks from being chafed, the halter was suspended by a light cord so arranged that it adapted itself to any slight movement, but detached itself when, at the sound of the alarm-gong, the animals ran out of their stalls to take their place on either side of the fire-engines.

In another moment the traces were fastened, and the men had climbed up, the entrance-doors were flung open, and away they were off at top speed.

Under favourable conditions, they could turn out in fourteen seconds; at night in one minute.

Steam was got up as they went along, the fire beneath the boiler being always ready laid with shavings, only requiring the application of a match.

None but picked men were in the Brigade, each one of whom must have been a sailor and be able to use his hands and feet at a dangerous elevation with cat-like dexterity.

He had to be trained, however, in the use of the fire-escape, etc, and the drilling of the men from 9 to 12 in the morning, and from 2 to 4 in the afternoon was worth seeing.

Practice made them wonderfully expert in saving life; a trained fireman would easily carry down a couple of children from a window - one he throws over his shoulder, the other he takes in one arm, leaving his other hand free to hold the rungs of the ladder.

For putting out a great fire an enormous quantity of water is required, so that we are not astonished to learn that the Brigade used about 215,000 tons in a year.

Each engine cost £1000, and its boiler could raise the great pressure of 120 lbs to the square inch.

About forty miles length of hose was in requisition by the Brigade.

It was made of rubber-lined canvas, and cost £7 per hundred feet without its connection, and when full of water its weight was prodigious.

Of fire-escapes there were about 230 in use; the latest model, representing an expenditure of £65, was so made that a man could manage it single-handed.

If the ladder was not long enough for the emergency, a second one working into the first could, by means of a small winch, be quickly wound and raised aloft.

London had about 600 "call points," 65 fire-engine stations, 4 river stations, and 60 horse-cart stations.

It had over 50 land steam fire-engines, and nearly 100 manual fire-engines.

In 1899 there were 3,846 fires in the Metropolis, over 216 being serious; there were 172 lives saved, and 119 lost; and the chief cause of fire was still, as of old, the ubiquitous cheap lamp supplied with inferior paraffin oil.

Next: London's Bridges in 1900: Tower Bridge