Establishment 2000

Was Station NE 26 under North Eastern Fire Brigade.

Banff T.C. –  Adopted the “Metro” registered design of leather fire helmet, made by James Hendry, Ltd., of Glasgow, for duty with the fire brigade.
(Fire, April, 1939. page 261.)

STATION 51 BANFF

The first recollections of a fire appliance being based at Banff is of a wheel barrow complete with kit consisting of mainly a branch, six lengths of hose and a stand pipe, dating back to the turn of the century and probably belonging to a local distillery.
With the arrival of the 20’s, a local town clerk named Robert Cumming took upon himself the campaign to buy an updated fire tender — a horse drawn steam pump — trying to persuade his fellow councillors the value of this investment. The moment he chose to demonstrate the advantage of the forthcoming aquisition was somewhat inopportune, arranging for the ‘fire unit’ to be turned out to the Town Hall during a Council Meeting. (It is reported several local dignitaries received cardiac massage!).
Through Mr. Cumming’s efforts, Banff eventually received a horse drawn pump, though more often than not the appliance was pulled along by a lorry which was the property of local coal merchant, Mr. D. Mair. The fire station at this time was positioned at Market Inn Close.
During the 1940’s, a local joiner named James Jamieson was appointed local Firemaster, and while in this position he supervised the fire crew in the construction of a Ford V8 fire appliance.
Banff was lucky enough to have two Fire Brigades during the war, the regulars who had a Coventry Climax pump which was towed along by ropes, and the AFS with a converted ambulance as their appliance.
The towns most famous blaze occurred during the war years when the Inverboyndie Distillery was bombed. Several thousand litres of whiskey escaped from the vats into the local stream, causing several head of cattle to be drunk and incapable.
During this spell Banff became a member of the National Fire Service, moving to a Clad Asbestos hut on the town’s Boyndie Road, the cost of which was £90. The building received substantial refurbishment in 1955.
The Banff Fire Service moved to St. Katherine Street in 1974, its present location where the retained fire crew along with the brigade have gone through various changes, both in personnel and equipment. However the towns fire crew, as always are ready to encounter any fire situation when the need arises.
(Northern Light Edition No. 10. Page 52.)

If you know of any mistakes in this or have any additional information please let me know.