Defence Fire Training and Development Centre facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Defence Fire Training and Development Centre |
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| Near Manston, Kent in England | |
The entrance to the Defence Fire Training and Development Centre
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 DFTDC
Location in Kent
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| Coordinates | 51°20′53″N 1°21′00″E / 51.348°N 1.350°E |
| Type | Defence Training Establishment |
| Area | 39 hectares (96 acres) |
| Site information | |
| Owner | Ministry of Defence |
| Operator | Royal Air Force (1959–2007) British Army (2007–2020) |
| Condition | Closed |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1959 (as the Air Ministry Fire Training School) |
| In use | 1959–2020 |
The Defence Fire Training and Development Centre (DFTDC) was a special place where firefighters for the Ministry of Defence learned their skills. It was located in Manston, a village in the southeast of England. The centre was part of an old Royal Air Force (RAF) base. The rest of the base became Kent International Airport, a civilian airfield, which closed in 2014.
Contents
What was the DFTDC?
The DFTDC was the main training site for all firefighters working for the UK's Ministry of Defence. This included firefighters from the Royal Air Force and the British Army. They learned how to put out different types of fires. They also learned how to rescue people safely.
How did the DFTDC start?
The RAF base at Manston was given back to the RAF in 1959. This is when the Air Ministry Fire Training School was set up. It was a place to train firefighters. In 1989, the RAF brought all its fire training to Manston. This new centre was called the RAF Fire Services Central Training Establishment (CTE).
Becoming the main training site
In 1995, Manston was chosen as the central place for all Ministry of Defence firefighter training. It was then known as MOD FSCTE. This meant all military firefighters would train here.
Changes over the years
On March 31, 1999, the rest of the RAF Manston base closed down. The FSCTE became the only military part left. The airfield became Kent International Airport. In April 2007, the British Army took over responsibility for all military firefighting. This led to the FSCTE being managed by the Army.
The final training class
On October 22, 2020, the last group of RAF firefighters finished their training at FSCTE. After this, all training moved to the Fire Service College. This ended the RAF's long connection with Manston, which had lasted for 104 years. Some military reserve groups still use parts of the site.
Manston Fire Museum: A Look Back at Firefighting History
Inside the base, there was a special museum called the Manston Fire Museum. It was in the old RAF CTE building. This museum showed the history of firefighting, especially for the RAF.
How the museum began
The museum started with a private collection of firefighting items. A person named Flt Sgt Steve Shirley owned this collection. When he moved to Manston, the RAF agreed to take over his collection. The museum opened in June 1995. It was first called the Ministry of Defence Fire Museum. In November 1998, its name changed to the Manston Fire Museum.
What was in the museum?
The museum had many interesting things. It displayed old fire vehicles and small models. There were also badges, patches, and uniforms. Visitors could see different helmets, prints, and firefighting tools. The museum closed in 2014. Its collections were then moved to the Museum of RAF Firefighting at Scampton.
