What's New?
 

A sight becoming increasingly rare, a line up of 3 Daf LFs in Dayglo livery seen at STC, 11 March 2024.
L to R ~ PO56VGU ~ PO55WDS ~ PO56VGT

The photographs included in this website are subject to copyright, images may not be copied, printed or otherwise disseminated without express written permission of the owner. Under all circumstances, copyright remains with the original photographer or author. Remember that copyright is protected under international law.

Full details of new additions to the site will be posted on this page with links where appropriate.

19.03.24.
For the last few weeks, I have been 'chasing' new appliances and especially the new Volvos in Lancashire. I have been superbly assisted in that task by Malcolm Nuttall. I am also grateful to Jonathan Dixon who sent me some appliance shots from a recent serious incident in Blackpool which included the new Command Unit on its second incident. Additionally, there are the usual routine updates. All updated pictures are listed below:

BAMBER BRIDGE ~ PL23UCT x2
BARNOLDSWICK ~ FIRE STATION
BLACKPOOL ~ PN73JEJ
BURNLEY ~ PK70DKL ~ PN73JFA x2
CLITHEROE ~ PK63FUF ~ PF65LMU
COLNE ~ PO13CZV
FULWOOD ~ PL73GAO
HYNDBURN ~ PL23UCU
KENDAL ~ PX23AEC
LANCS TRAINING ~ PK63FUE
LANCS USAR ~ PM139
LEIGH ~ PF23OPY
PENWORTHAM ~ PN73JDZ
SOUTH SHORE ~ PF65LML
TARLETON ~ PN16BVL
WARRINGTON ~ MX23AYJ

23.02.24.
I have begun by updating the information given for the incident at Queenline Kitchens. A more significant update of the current scene, including more of the new Volvo appliances entering service in Lancashire, some of which were seen following a large fire in Blackburn last weekend. Also thanks to Graham Mitchell* for a couple of the GMC pictures.  The updates are as listed below:

BARNOLDSWICK ~ PO61BBJ
BLACKBURN ~ PK70EPP
BLACKLEY ~ PJ21OVB
BLACKPOOL ~ PN73JEJ
BOLTON LE SANDS ~ PK63FUJ
BURNLEY ~ PN16BVK ~ PK70DKL
CHORLEY ~ PN73JFE
CLITHEROE ~ PK63FUF
FULWOOD ~ PO11NCU
HOLLINS ~ PF23OPP*
HYNDBURN ~ YD18KGL ~  PL23UCU
LANCS TRAINING ~ PO56GVR~PO56VGU~PO56VLS
LEYLAND ~ PK70EPO
MORECAMBE ~ PO18SVF
PHILIPS PARK ~ PK69FLF
PREESALL ~ PO62KBY
PRESTON ~ PN04VAX ~ PL23UCN ~ PN73JFF
SACU ~ PO13FLL
ST ANNES ~ PO18SVE
SKELMERSDALE ~ PL19GHV
WESHAM ~ PO13FVV
WITHINGTON ~ PF23OPT*

20.02.24.
The first of what I hope will be a number of updates of library pictures.

BROUGHTON ~ C745DNF at Central Mill Blackley
COLNE ~ WTD867H ~ STJ902M
GORTON ~ Record shot of URJ787S* behind A695MNC
HORWICH ~ ENB644T
LEIGH ~ NBU716W
MANCHESTER CENTRAL ~ C744DNF at Central Mill Blackley
NEWTON LE WILLOWS ~ RTF813G after serious collision
STRETFORD ~ STJ199L*
WIGAN ~ Line Up
* Not previously featured.

Also included is a picture of an incident at Queenline Kitchens, Bolton in 2002, kindly provided by Stuart Wilkinson.

02.02.24.
I am most grateful to Andy Daley for a selection of pictures from the 12 pump fire on Fox Street, Liverpool last weekend. I have created a new incident page for those pictures. This morning I was in the right place at the right time. I was on the M60 heading to Costco in Chadderton, when I was advised of a 6 pump incident in Chadderton. Being just over 5 minutes away, meant that I was at the incident before a number of appliances attending, and before the road was shut off. I was able to photograph all the appliances attending as listed below. |As the fire itself was predominantly at the rear of the property, I have not posted any incident pictures. There was a reserve appliance from Philips Park also in attendance but not published.

ASHTON-UNDER-LYNE ~ PO67CJX ~ PO18TVW ~ PO23ORA x2
BLACKLEY ~ PJ21OVB
CHADDERTON ~ PK69FKS
HEYWOOD ~ PO68WWS
HOLLINS ~ PF23OPP
OLDHAM ~ PN05UVJ
ROCHDALE ~ PO60DWF
WHITEFIELD ~ PO68WWR

30.01.24.
The next new Volvo for Lancashire has gone on the run at Preston, whilst just up the road at Fulwood a new Coomand Unit has arrived but is not yet in service. I have created an incident page for a fire in a derelict hotel in Ashton-in-Makerfield last week, which also contains pictures of 3 relief pumps that were in attendance. An updated appliance picture has been added to the Hindley page.

22.01.24.
Following the arrival of the first Volvo pumping appliance into service with Lancashire, I have updated the Fulwood page. I have also updated the appliance picture on the Lytham page.

16.01.24.
The first update of the new year sees a number of revised appliance pictures as listed.

BLACKLEY ~ PJ21OVB
BURY ~ PF23OPU
CLITHEROE ~ PN09PYT
DARWEN ~ PO56VGV
ROCHDALE ~ PO60DWF ~ PO68WWP
SILVERDALE ~ PO13CZX

25.12.23.
Wishing all visitors to the site a very HAPPY AND PEACEFUL CHRISTMAS. I am currently working through hundreds of Library Pictures which I hope to be able to post as time permits. Watch this space!!

12.12.23.
The first weekend in December saw a major fire in Lancaster which at this time is still burning. I am grateful to Jonathan Dixon who sent me some pictures from the incident where he was a member of the SACU team. I attended myself and managed to photograph a few appliances down at Lancaster Quays.  These appear on the Burnley, Lancaster, and Preston pages. Although all roads around the incident were blocked, I managed to find a good access point elsewhere and I was able to make a short video looking down on the incident.

27.11.23.
I have added three more new Scanias to the Cumbria section at Barrow, Carlisle East and Kendal. I have also fully updated the Cumbria section as much as I can. Many pages have been updated/corrected and the Index of the current appliance allocations and the Library Index have both been updated. Just a reminder that the index only refers to the pictures available. For example, until I can publish a picture of the new Scania at Carlisle West, the Index will continue to show the Volvo previously based there. None of this work could have been achieved without the generous help of Graham Mitchell who has supplied both photographs and fleet details. I still have the other 4 areas to update, plus dozens of archive photos which I hope to bring over the winter months. I am conscious that I have had some of these for some time. I can assure those of you who have kindly supplied historical pictures that they will appear eventually.

08.11.23.
Over the last weekend there have been a number of large incidents in the North-West of which the largest was a 10 pump fire in Longridge on Monday evening. I was able to visit there yesterday where there was still several relief appliances in attendance. I have created an incident page and also have included a number of the appliance pictures on the respective home page.

BACUP ~ PF65LMV
BLACKBURN ~ PO60LUP
BOLTON LE SANDS ~ OV60VDP
DARWEN ~ PN17JFU
MORECAMBE ~ YD18KGL
ORMSKIRK ~ PN17JFV
SACU ~ PE63TZX
SOUTH SHORE ~ PF65LML

28.10.23.
Work has now been completed on the extension at Littleborough Fire Station and an uopdated picture has been added. Appliance pictures have been updated on the Bamber Bridge, Barnoldswick, Carnforth and Great Harwood pages.

23.10.23.
It is with great sadness that we learned today of the death of Steve Fellows, crew manager at Audlem Fire Station. Steve died last Friday, aged 42, after a short illness. Sincere condolences are offered to all of Steve's family and to his colleagues at Audlem. MAY HE REST IN PEACE.

22.10.23.
Today marks the 52nd anniversary of the 40 pump fire at Texas Mill in Ashton-under-Lyne. I was privileged to be invited to Ashton Fire Station this morning, where a Red Plaque was unveiled to remember Fireman Norman Nolan who was tragically killed at that incident. It was also a huge privilege to meet Norman's widow and his son and daughter who were aged just 4 years and 2 years old at the time of his death. A new page has been which has been linked to both the Ashton Fire Station page and also the Texas Mill page.
I have also updated a couple of the Ashton appliances, plus appliance pictures on the Ellesmere Port and South Shore pages have been updated.

15.10.23.
A significant update which includes the 12 new Volvo pumping appliances for Greater Manchester. I have listed these in registration order rather than the usual station order.

PF23OPO ~ MARPLE
PF23OPP ~ HOLLINS
PF23OPR ~ AGECROFT
PF23OPS ~ STALYBRIDGE
PF23OPT ~ WITHINGTON
PF23OPU ~ BURY
PF23OPV ~ CHEADLE
PF23OPW ~ OFFERTON
PF23OPX ~ BOLTON NORTH
PF23OPY ~ LEIGH
PF23OPZ ~ ALTRINCHAM
PF23ORA ~ ASHTON UNDER LYNE

The majority of the above are already in service, with the remainder entering service in the very new future.

In Cheshire, new Scania pumping appliances are also appearing, including:

PENKETH ~ MX23AYL

Cumbria has taken delivery of 6 new Scania pumping appliances some of which are now in service. I am grateful to Graham Mitchell for supplying these pictures along with an updated picture of Cockermouth Fire Station.

WHITEHAVEN ~ PX23ACO
WORKINGTON ~ PX23AEB

A delivery of new Volvo appliances is in the process of delivery in Lancashire. An update will follow once I am able to photograph them.

In addition to all of the above, appliance pictures on the following pages have been routinely updated:

FARNWORTH ~ PO60KWV ~ PK69FLB
KENDAL ~ PO55BUH
LIVERPOOL CITY ~ DK66CEX ~ DK68DAO ~ YN22EKX
POWEY LANE ~ MX22HWV
STRETFORD ~ PO68WCF
WHITEFIELD ~ PO68WWR

Finally, I have created a new incident page for a Car Fire on the A590 at Crooklands in Cumbria, and a link to a new video taken at the launch of the new Volvos in Greater Manchester.

NOTE: I have yet to update the lists of Fire Stations and Appliances Allocated, both current and historical. This will be quite a mommoth task which I shall undertake as soon as possible.

18.08.23.
Yesterday saw one of the largest fires in the north-west for quite sometime. I have created a new Incident Page for the fire at St Simon & St Jude C of E Primary School in Great Lever, Bolton.
Pictures of the incident are included plus a number of appliances that attended. As ever, I have used some of the appliance pictures to update the relevant Home Page. Additionally, I have added a small of number of appliances pictures taken around the region during August. These are listed below along with any pages updated from the Bolton incident.

BOLTON CENTRAL ~ PJ22XGM
CARLISLE WEST ~ KX63MXY
CHORLEY ~ PJ70DKD
EARBY ~ PO13CZY
HOLLINS ~ PO60KWT
MANCHESTER CENTRAL ~ PO68WCE
OFFERTON ~ PO11AVG
STALYBRIDGE ~ PO11AVN
STRETFORD ~ PM007
WESHAM ~ PO13FVV

05.08.23.
July also got off to a busy start with an 8 pump fire in Burnley, plus I have continued with general update of appliance pictures as listed below:

ALSAGER ~ MK71KNS
ASHTON UNDER LYNE ~ PO67CJX ~ PO18TVW
ATHERTON ~ MV54AYW ~ YJ64JBO
BACUP ~ PF65LMV
BLACKBURN ~ PK70EPP
CHORLEY ~ PJ70DKD
COLNE ~ PO13CZT ~ PO13CZV
FARNWORTH ~ PK69FLB
FULWOOD ~ PO11NCU
HASLINGDEN ~ PO62KCC
HINDLEY ~ PJ21OWG
HORNBY ~ PJ65YLC
HORWICH ~ PO11AVK
HYNDBURN ~ PO61BAA ~ PK63FUE ~ PN16FPA
LANCASHIRE TRAINING ~ PO18SVJ
LANCASHIRE USAR ~ PM168
LEYLAND ~ PN09KNM x2 ~ PN16BVL
MERSEYSIDE TDA ~ DK55HNB
MORECAMBE ~ PO62KZD
NELSON ~ PN17JFX
PADIHAM ~ PO13CZU
PATTERDALE ~ FIRE STATION ~ PX11AFO
PRESTON ~ PN04VAX ~ PN16BVM
RAWTENSTALL ~ PK70EPU
SKELMERSDALE ~ PN16BVO ~ PL19GHV
STRETFORD ~ PO68WLV
WARRINGTON ~ MX67JUA

02.07.23.
June turned out to be quite a busy month, most especially during the heatwave. In the middle of the month there was an 8 pump fire in Accrington, and whilst crews were attending that incident, there was a 6 pump fire just under a mile away, which brought in a number of visiting appliances to the Accrington area. Later in the month there was an 8 pump fire at a scrapyard in Widnes, followed the next evening by a 10 pump fire in Barrow-in-Furness. I have created a new Incident Page for the fire in Barrow. In addition to the aforementioned, I have spent several hours in the Cheshire area updating appliance pictures and at the time of writing, I believe there remains just one of the Toyota RRRVs to photograph, though I understand there may be an additional vehicle not yet in service. Arrangements are in hand to complete that project. The list of updates is as follows:

ALSAGER ~ PO11FZN
BAMBER BRIDGE ~ PN16BVP
BLACKBURN ~ PO60LUP ~ PK70EPP
BOLLINGTON ~ MX17GBE ~ MF22ONM
BURNLEY ~ PN16BVK ~ PJ70DKL
BURY ~ PO60KWY
COLNE ~ PO13CZV
CREWE ~ MX67JUE
DARWEN ~ PO11KKB ~ PO62KAE
FRODSHAM ~ RMB996 ~ PO13 AZN ~ MK71KNJ
GRANGE OVER SANDS ~ PX09EDK
HOLMES CHAPEL ~ MX65BCE ~ MK71KNR
HYNDBURN ~ PO61BAA ~ PK63FUE
KENDAL ~ KR63YVU
KIRKBY LONSDALE ~ PX09 EDL
LEYLAND ~ PN09KNM ~ PO11KJU ~ PN16BVL
LYMM ~ ML72NMJ
MIDDLEWICH ~ MK71KNP
MILLOM ~ NK67LLW
MILNTHORPE ~ NJ19ETZ
NANTWICH ~ MX06KWH ~ DK61EZZ ~ MX17GBF
NELSON ~ PN17JFX
PENWORTHAM ~ PN17JFO
POWEY LANE ~ DA52YZG ~ WX54VTY ~ PM046
POYNTON ~ PO13AZL ~ MK72KOE
RAWTENSTALL ~ Q612TCY
SANDBACH ~ MX65BCF
STALYBRIDGE ~ PO11AVN
STOCKTON HEATH ~ PO12HVB ~ MK71KNO
WESHAM ~ PO13FVV

07.06.23.
A substantial update following a couple of recent incidents, including a long overdue update of some Cheshire appliances. The following is a list of pages updated:

ATHERTON ~ PO60KWW x2
AUDLEM ~ PO12HVA ~ MK71KNN
BACUP ~ Q611TCY ~ PO61BAU x2 ~ PO11KKD ~ PF65LMV ~ YD67VJN
BACUP LIBRARY PAGE ~YD67VJN [White Livery]
BOLTON CENTRAL ~ PO68WCJ
BURNLEY ~ PJ70DKL
CHESTER ~ MX16JDU~MX67JUC
CONGLETON ~ MX19EWH
FARNWORTH ~ PM186 ~ PN09JUK ~ PO60KWV ~ PK69FLB
KENSINGTON ~ DK70FLP
MALPAS ~ PN10HRP ~ MK71KNV
MIDDLEWICH ~ MX17GBU
NORTHWICH ~ FN54AFX ~ MX20ANU
OTB9
PENKETH ~ MX17GAU
POWEY LANE ~ DA52YZG ~ WX54VTY ~ PM046
RAWTENSTALL ~ PO61BBJ ~ PK70EPU ~ Q612TCY ~ YG13MVJ
SALE ~ PK69FLC
SANDBACH ~ MK71KNM
TARPORLEY ~ FIRE STATION ~ PN10HRO ~ MK71KNL
WARRINGTON ~ MX67JUA
WHITEFIELD ~ PO68WWR
WILMSLOW ~ MX19EWK
WYTHENSHAWE ~ PK69FKW

Additionally, I have created a new Over The Border page. Finally, many thanks as ever to Malcolm Nuttall for supplpying a number of pictures for this update, including a complete set from Rawtenstall.
[Note: I still have a number of outstanding historical pictures to upload. I will add them as soon as time permits.]

28.04.23.
This is the first substantial update for quite a while. Included are pictures from the derelict hotel in Blackpool earlier this week, and also the remaining 'missing' appliances from GMFRS. There are a couple of general updates as well. All are listed below. Following current policy, I have included all of the appliances that I photographed at the Blackpool Hotel Fire on the Incident Page, plus a number of them have been used to update the station Home Pages.

ASHTON UNDER LYNE ~ PO68WWT
BISPHAM ~ PJ70ZBW
BLACKPOOL ~ PF65LMU ~ PO18SVK
BOLTON CENTRAL ~ PJ22XGM
BOLTON NORTH ~ PO11AVL ~ AV64OPJ ~ PE72JMU
CHORLEY ~ PJ70DKD
ECCLES ~ PJ21OWM
FLEETWOOD ~ PO62KWZ ~ PN17JFY
FULWOOD ~ PO11NCU
HORWICH ~ PO67CJZ
LANCS USAR ~ PM139
LEIGH ~ PO68WWN
LEYLAND ~ PN16BVL
MOSSLEY ~ PO60KWP
PENWORTHAM ~ PN1YJFO
PRESTON ~ PN04VAX ~ PN16BVM ~ PO18SVG
ST ANNES ~ PO62KYR ~ PO18SVE
SALFORD ~ PO60KWR
STRETFORD ~ PO68WCF
SOUTH SHORE ~ PF65LML
WHITEHILL ~ PN21KFT

09.04.23.
I have updated the picture of Ramsbottom Fire Station. Appliance pictures have been updated on the Kirkby and Sale pages, along with an update of the second appliance at Farnworth, Gorton, Wigan& Wythenshawe.

19.02.23.
I have updated the Aintree,Bootle/Netherton, Formby and Leigh pages.

17.02.23.
Last Sunday there was a serious fire at the Old Cobblers Public House & Carvery in Rawtenstall for which I have created a new incident page. Yesterday saw 8 pumps plus specials attending a fire in Castleton near Rochdale. Although I was unable to get any pictures of the fire itself, I was able to photograph the majority of the appliances which attended as follows:

ASHTON UNDER LYNE ~ PO67CJX ~ PO18TVW
BLACKLEY ~ PJ21OVB
BROUGHTON ~ PJ21OWH
BURY ~ PO60KWY [from Sunday]
HOLLINS ~ PO60KWT
OLDHAM ~ PO68WCK
SACU ~ PO13FLL
WHITEFIELD ~ PO68WWR

10.02.23.
Two of the new Scanias with Merseyside have now been added to the Newton-le-Willows page and Toxteth page. I have also created a new incident page for this morning's mill fire at Withnell Fold which also incldues many of the appliances that attended.

04.02.23.
The appliance picture on the Carnforth page has been updated.

27.01.23.
It is with great sadness the death has been announced of FF Barry Martin who was critically injured in the fire at the Jenners Building in Edinburgh on Monday of this week.
We send our sinere condolences to all Barry's family, friends and colleauges at this very difficult time.  Rest in Peace, Sir.

24.01.23.
The Longridge and Rawtenstall pages have been updated. I am very grateful to Malcolm Nuttall for pictures from an RTC which has also allowed me to update the Barnoldswick & Earby pages. The RTC pictures have been added to a new Incident Page.
 

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