The County of Lanarkshire Fire Brigade
Main Stations
Shettleston
Bellshill
Larkhall
Lanark
Fire Tender Station
Cambuslang
There were also Subsidiary Stations at important populous places.
Firemasters
1/2/1911 to Captain Despard
Appliances
? VD3307 Leyland 100' TL (Lanark County Council)
Notes
Brigade formed 1st February, 1911
INAUGURATION OF LANARKSHIRE FIRE BRIGADE
The new fire brigade for the County of Lanark, to which allugion
has been made in our columns from time to time, was successfully inaugurated on Saturday
afternoon within the grounds of Hamilton Palace. The brigade has been established by the
County Council under the powers conferred on County Authorities by Local Government
(Scotland) Act, 1908. Under the scheme, four main stations, each with a petrol motor
engine, have been established at Shettleston, Bellshill, Larkhall and Lanark, with a fire
tender station Cambuslang and subsidiary stations at important populous places in the
county. All important places can be reached within fifteen minutes and outlying districts
in less than half an hour, and in any serious conflagration the various brigades will be
summoned to supplement the local one.
The demonstration on Saturday took place at the north front of the Palace in the presence
of a large and representative gathering of ladies and gentlemen. In addition to the
Convener of the County, the County Clerk, County Councillors, and Provosts and magistrates
of the various burghs, there were several representatives from other Authorities including
Lord Provost M'Innes Shaw of Glasgow; Councillor Moscript, chairman of the Edinburgh Fire
Brigade Committee; Bailies Stewart and Douglas, Edinburgh and Firemaster Pordage of
Edinburgh. The Duchess of Hamilton and party were also interested spectators of the
display. At 1-45, Colonel R King Stewart, the Convener of the County, gave a short
inaugural address. Standing on one of the motor engines, the Convener said the County
Council of Lanark had long felt that they should have more power to deal with the question
of forming a fire brigades. The passing of the Local Government of 1908, gave the County
Authorities the power to form brigades of their own or conjointly with other areas. They
in Lanark thought they ought to have a fire brigade of their own, and they were in the
proud position of being the first County Council in Scotland with it's own fire brigade.
(Applause) They hoped to have the brigade in working order and ready to meet any emergency
by the 1st of February. Mr Portage, the firemaster of Edinburgh had recommended that the
police should used and this had been done. They were very fortunate in having as their
Chief Constable, Captain Despard, who had had a good experience of fire brigade duties in
England. The Convener was certain that the county fire brigade would be an efficient one.
Captain Despard briefly described the brigade and it's equipment, and outlined the method
by which they intended that afternoon to demonstrate the capabilities of the brigade.
Owing to the height of the Clyde and the nature of it's banks there, they did not care to
bring the water from the river, as they had intended, by way of showing the pumping
capacities of the engines, but to make up for this they would force the water from the
fountain at the Palace over the same distance viz almost 400 yards.
On a signal from Captain Despard, the members of the brigade, who were lined up
immediately in front of the Palace, mounted the four engines and tender. The drivers
quickly got the motors in motion, and the engines were each taken to their appointed
places. In a remarkably short space of time several powerful jets of water were being
poured on the Palace roof. Considering the fact that everything was new, and consequently
stiff to work, the men very smartly discharged their duties. By means of scaling ladders,
the roof of the Palace was reached, the hose drawn up, and the water applied in a few
minutes. Interesting demonstrations were given of the utility of the small first aid hose
and of the height to which the brigade would be able to throw the water with the ordinary
hose and special nozzle. The height reached was certainly beyond that of any building in
Lanarkshire.
At the conclusion of the display, tea was provided in the Riding School and when this
refection was over, Colonel R. K. Stewart said he had been deputed by the members of the
County Council to say how pleased they were to see so many friends there that day. He was
glad to hear that their guests, some of whom were most critical on fire brigade matters,
had expressed their satisfaction with the display Captain Despard and his brigade had
given. Considering the supply of water they had, the display was very good indeed. The
best work was done, perhaps, with the hose taken to the top of the Palace, where they were
able to show that their hose could reach a height of 120 feet with the pressure they had.
That was a very satisfactory performance. Mr Pordage, the firemaster, had spoken most
highly of the efficiency of the brigade and of the engines. In thanking the visitors for
their presence, the Convener coupled with the compliment the name of the Lord Provost of
Glasgow. (Applause)
Lord Provost M'Innes Shaw, on behalf of the guests, conveyed their thanks to the County
Council for the invitation to be present at that interesting demonstration. He
congratulated the County on the inauguration of their new fire brigade. It was now
absolutely necessary that the best fire appliances should be housed by the county as well
as by the towns and it was equally necessary to have the fire brigade with engine on the
scene of the fire at once. Glasgow had a very friendly arrangement with the county in
connection with fires, and the city had always been very willing to give all the
assistance they could on the occasion of fires in the county. But the county had done the
right thing in getting a fire brigade of their own and he could say from his experience of
the Glasgow fire brigade that the new county brigade was a very efficient one. (Applause)
He was delighted with the manner in which the new brigade did it's work that afternoon.
That is was performed so efficiently and so well said a great deal for the instruction
that had been imparted by Captain Despard. He urged the necessity of frequent practice at
fire drill, and he had no doubt Captain Despard would see that that was done. As regards
the supply of water, he did not know what the County of Lanark might be doing, but he
would say that the communities in the various parts of the county should provide a dam
where the brigade might get a considerable supply of water without delay. Again, on behalf
of the guests, the Lord Provost thanked the Council for the great courtesy and attention
shown to them, and they wished both the Council and the fire brigade the best success.
(Applause)
Mr William Neilson, vice convener of the county, said he had been asked to express their
indebtedness to the Town Council of Edinburgh for allowing their firemaster, Mr Portage,
to come and assist the county and its Fire Brigade Committee. They also thanked Mr Portage
for the able services he had rendered to the Council. They were pleased to have with them
Councillor Moscript, chairman of the Edinburgh Fire Brigade Committee, and they desired to
acknowledge the kindness he and his committee had shown them in connection with the
brigade.
Councillor Moscript, in replying, said he was sure the city of Edinburgh were more than
delighted to aid the Lanark County Council in this good work. When the matter came up
before his committee they unanimously resolved to allow their firemaster to assist the
county for all he was worth, for they all know the experience Mr Pordage had in these
matters. (Applause)
The proceedings then concluded with a vote of thanks to the convener, moved by Mr Robert
Lambie, Larkhall.
(The Hamilton Advertiser, 21/1/1911. Page 4.)
COUNTY OF LANARK FIRE BRIGADES.
With the disadvantage of a scattered and wide
area, Lanark County Council is proving its fitness to meet the requirements of
the communities with as much efficiency as can he attained by authorities whose
areas are contiguous and compact. Developments have proceeded so gradually and
noiselessly, but so persistently and uniformly, that our county districts are in
the enjoyment of most of the blessings procurable, almost without knowing how
they came there. To realise what has been achieved, one has to go back some
twenty odd years and make a comparison with the things as they were then and are
now. Difficulty after difficulty has been attacked and surmounted by the best
brains and genius of the county, directed by impelling sympathies and noble
aspirations. The spirit that inspired these movements, and the judicious daring
that gave them shape and practicability are with us still, and are as active, as
real, and as alert as ever they were. The past year has seen realised what at
one time were considered the dreams of visionaries.
We have just added to our county equipment, fire brigades that are no less the
pride of the people than of County Councillors and officials by whom they have
been brought into being. Under the scheme four main stations are established at
Shettleston, Bellshill, Larkhall and Lanark, with a fire tender station at
Cambuslang. The brigade operates primarily in defined districts, the Shettleston
brigade in the Lower Ward, the districts immediately surrounding Glasgow,
Cambuslang and East Kilbride; the BelIshill brigade in Bellshill, Bothwell,
Uddingston, the Monklands, Blantyre, and East Kilbride; the Larkhall brigade in
Larkhall, Glassford, Stonehouse, Avondale, Lesmahagow, Dalziel, Cambusnethan,
and Carluke; and the Lanark one in the burghs of Lanark and Biggar, with whom
agreements have been entered into. All important populous places can be reached
within 15 minutes, and outlying districts in less than half an hour, and in any
serious conflagration the various brigades will be summoned to supplement the
local one. Each station is equipped with a petrol motor fire engine or pump. The
fire engines are each of 75 brake horsepower, capable of developing a speed of
at least 35 miles per hour, with four forward and one reverse speeds. The pumps
are of the centrifugal turbine type, for which there is claimed, in addition to
great efficiency, the advantage of being able to utilise water drawn from
sources which may contain mud and sand, without impairing the efficiency or
damaging the mechanism. The tests which have been conducted have proved that the
minimum standard of 450 gallons per minute, 140lbs. per square inch of pressure
and the power to lift water from a source at least 28 feet below the engine and
throw a jet of 150 feet can be easily attained. Distance from a water supply is
not now insuperable to efficient control of a fire, through it causes delay, for
the pumps can, with the hose and appliances provided, operate efficiently within
a radius of half a mile. The staff is drawn principally from the police force at
each station, augmented by local tradesmen. The police members of the brigade
will be immediately available on an alarm, as they are drawn from the members of
the police force off duty for the time being. This arrangement, in addition to
saving time in turning out, obviates any interference with the members on police
duty. Special training of the members of the brigade has been carried out at
Edinburgh under Mr. Pordage. Captain Despard, Chief Constable of the County, who
has been appointed Firemaster, has had previous experience in England of the
duties. In addition there have been appointed an instructor who has been
specially trained, and qualified mechanics and drivers. The total cost is
estimated at about £13,500, which is equivalent to a rate not exceeding a half
penny per farthing on owners and a farthing on occupiers.
In addition to the economy effected by the working of the fire brigades largely
through the police, there was a well conceived appropriateness in appointing
Captain Despard to be Firemaster, and that appointment afforded all that was
lacking to give the new institution the fullest confidence of the public.
Captain Despard had brought the Lanarkshire police force to a point of
efficiency that elicited the admiration of all classes of the community, and by
efficiency we include the cordial relationship that exists between the police
and the people, and it was felt that the same high standard of administrative
effectiveness would be made to permeate any other undertaking he might be called
upon to guide.
The fire brigade commenced work on 1st February, 1911, and have attended over 80
fires. The value of property involved in fire is estimated at £92,324 ; and of
that value it is estimated that £66,769 has been saved. The brigade consists of
firemaster, instructor, 45 constable-firemen, and 28 civilian firemen-total, 75.
Great difficulty has been experienced in dealing with some fires on account of
the scarcity of water. On one occasion water had to be pumped from a distance of
three-quarters of a mile, and on another, of over half a mile.
The picture on this page shows the County Fire Brigade in front of Hamilton
Palace. The Duke and Duchess have taken a great interest in its promotion, and
have expressed their admiration at the equipment the county has provided.
But the interest in the brigade is not confined too any one class. During the
year it has had frequent demonstrations in all parts of the county, and,
everywhere it went, received the plaudits of the people, who lined the streets
in large numbers.
For many years previous to the establishment of the Fire Brigade, Local
Authorities were sorely perplexed as to how contingencies of fire could be met
without burdening the people.
(Stothers Glasgow, Lanarkshire and Renfrewshire Xmas and New Year Annual 1911.
Pages 372 & 373.)
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