Glasgow Fire Service facts for kids

Glasgow Fire Service was a very important group of people who helped keep the city of Glasgow safe. They provided emergency services like stopping fires (firefighting), preventing fires from starting, helping people in medical emergencies, and performing special rescues. Glasgow is the biggest city in Scotland and the third-largest in the United Kingdom. On 16 May 1975, the Glasgow Fire Service became part of a bigger service called the Strathclyde Fire and Rescue Service, which no longer exists today.

How Glasgow's Fire Service Started

Glasgow has had an organised way of fighting fires for a very long time! The first records show that leather buckets for putting out fires were bought around 1643. Imagine using buckets to fight big fires! In 1747, the city hired its first part-time fire superintendent, who was in charge of the fire brigade.

The fire brigade was known as the Glasgow Fire Brigade until 1941. During World War II, a national service called the National Fire Service was created to help with fires across the country.

After the war, on 1 April 1948, the Glasgow Fire Service was officially formed. This happened because of a new law called the Fire Services Act 1947. It was one of eleven fire brigades set up in Scotland that went back to being controlled by local councils.

In May 1975, the Glasgow Fire Service joined the Strathclyde Fire Brigade. This was part of a big change in how local government was organised in Scotland.

Key Moments in Firefighting History

Here are some important dates in Glasgow's firefighting history:

Major Incidents and Brave Actions

Glasgow has a long history of big fires and other sad events where the fire service was needed.

In 1190, a fire badly damaged Glasgow Cathedral. Later, on 17 July 1652, a huge fire known as the 'Great Fire of Glasgow' destroyed a third of the city!

Many years later, in February 1849, a small fire at the Theatre Royal caused a panic, and 65 people, mostly under 20, were sadly crushed. In 1889, 29 young women, aged 14 to 25, died when the Templeton's carpet factory collapsed during strong winds. A fire in a lodging house in 1905 killed 39 men and injured 24 others. The famous Kelvin Hall, built in 1901, was completely destroyed by fire on 7 July 1925. On 4 May 1949, a fire at Grafton's fashion store led to the deaths of thirteen young women, six of whom were teenagers.

Fires continued to affect Glasgow throughout the late 1900s, leading to the deaths of many people and firefighters.

Recognising Bravery: Leon & Co Fire

On 16 March 1953, Glasgow's firefighters faced a very difficult incident. A serious fire at Leon & Co in Ballater Street killed five male employees. The firefighters who helped rescue people showed incredible bravery. They were given many awards, including three George Medals, two British Empire Medals for Bravery, and three Queen's Commendations for Bravery. This was the largest number of bravery awards given for a single incident at that time! The Firemaster, Chadwick, said these awards were "unprecedented" in the history of the British Fire Service.

Cheapside and Kilbirnie Street Memorial

After several big fires in businesses during the 1960s, the news media started calling Glasgow the 'Tinderbox City'. This meant it seemed like fires could start very easily, like a tinderbox.

The Cheapside Street Disaster

On 28 March 1960, "the worst disaster in the peacetime history of the British Fire Service" happened. At 7:15 PM, a 999 call reported a fire at 130 Cheapside Street. Fire engines arrived quickly. This fire is remembered because fourteen Glasgow firefighters and five salvagemen (who helped save goods from fires) sadly lost their lives. Their colleagues showed amazing bravery. Station Officer Peter J McGill and Fireman James M Dunlop received George Medals for their courage. Other firefighters also received British Empire Medals and Queen's Commendations for Brave Conduct. Even though it's called the Cheapside Street disaster, most of the deaths happened on Warroch Street.

Other Significant Fires

On 26 October 1962, another important building, the St Andrew's Halls, was badly damaged by a major fire. Only one side of the building was left standing.

On 18 November 1968, twenty-two people died in a fire at A J & S Stern's furniture factory in James Watt Street. Fire crews arrived very quickly, but they couldn't save the people trapped inside. The windows had bars, and the fire escapes were locked.

On 2 January 1971, fire crews from all over Glasgow helped at the Ibrox disaster, a terrible event that caused 66 deaths and over 200 injuries.

The Kilbirnie Street Fire

The year 1972 saw the last tragic loss of Glasgow firefighters. On 25 August, seven Glasgow Fire Service members died while trying to rescue a trapped colleague at a warehouse fire at 70/72 Kilbirnie Street. These brave individuals had served for different lengths of time, from just over a year to twenty-four years. The youngest victim was only 20 years old. The courage shown at Kilbirnie Street led to eleven Glasgow Corporation Medals for Bravery and a Queen's Commendation for Brave Conduct.

The Maryhill Road Fire

On 18 November 1972, the fire service was called to a fire in an old shop on Maryhill Road. Here, Sub Officer Adrian McGill became the last Glasgow firefighter to lose his life protecting the city's citizens. He was trying to rescue a trapped woman and bravely took off his breathing apparatus to give it to her. He sadly died from breathing in too much smoke. He was given a Queen's Commendation for Brave Conduct and the Glasgow Corporation Medal for Bravery after his death. The fire service rescued fifteen people using ladders and led over 200 people to safety through the smoke.

Excluding firefighters who died during World War II, forty Glasgow firefighters lost their lives fighting fires in 'Tinderbox City'. This includes four men who died at W & R Hatrick's Chemical Works in 1898, all the way to Sub Officer McGill at Maryhill Road in 1972.

Leaders of Glasgow's Fire Service (1809–1975)

These are the people who led the Glasgow Fire Service, known as Firemasters, from 1809 until 1975:

Glasgow Fire Stations (1974)

In 1974, the Glasgow Fire Service had many fire stations organised into different divisions: