Grahams Fire Page West Yorkshire Fire Service on the World Stage

I bet that somebody up at Headquarters is going to get a slapping!

Fancy having the nerve and temerity to go out and BUY BRITISH!

I thought that perceived wisdom these days was to buy anything, as long as it's made abroad! What about our poor Japanese competitors (I nearly said owners then, silly me), don't they have any Nissan Navara's, Mitsubishi Animals or Toyota Lancruisers for sale ?

Never mind that they're crap off-road, they look Glossy and Smart, just the thing for the up and coming Fire Officer to be seen in, which is what's wanted these days!

Although I've seen a few Volvo's in France and Holland, it seems that every other country in Europe buys from their own manufacturers. Not us, though, we're the dumping ground of the world! It's not that long ago that this country supplied fire appliances to the world, but suddenly we're importing vehicles from sniggering foreign manufacturers. 

I bet ex West Yorkshireman  Chief Byron Teates, in East Manatee Fire Rescue in Florida, isn't queueing up to buy Mercedes!

No wonder Dennis and Merryweather went to the wall!

OK, rant over......I'll get me coat.....

PS.....Down in Beaucaire, on the Rhone in Southern France, they have a couple of very tidy Defenders for brush fires, so sometimes things go the other way.  Still, if you want the best, then by all means BUY BRITISH.....

PPS....How long before firefighters are renamed Smoke and Heat Operatives, in the true spirit of destroying anything that may have 'traditional' overtones and values, such as the ranks of  'Leading Firefighter' or 'Sub Officer' or 'Station Officer'?  These new rank names make 'em sound like bland and greyed-out refugees from the novel '1984'!  I bet they were thought up by a committee! A non-uniformed committee too!

Anyone got any ideas?

OK.....I'm back in me box......

HI Mark

I worked on Red Watch at Bradford central from 1977 until 1991 and I attended both the garage incident as first shout and also the Preston Street (City Road Goods Yard) job on the Sunday after the initial fire which happened on the Saturday night.

The Garage incident happened about ten thirty in the morning when a leaking acetylene cylinder exploded when a worker turned on the hot water boiler.

Although I can't remember the exact turnout I do remember there was a serious fire involving the decimated garage and all of the surrounding buildings having all of their windows blown out.

There were two casualtys in this incident and another two were rescued and transported to the Hospital.

Station Officer Ken Daphne was the initial officer in charge of the garage incident and Red Watch were in attendance until change of shift on Saturday evening.

If you want any further information please contact me.

Ben Hanney

If some of your memories (May) recall Lol!!!

Many years ago on the weekend of the 4/5th November 1984 the traditional Bonfire jobs were coming in fast.

Little did the Bradford crews know that the next 48 hours was going to be VERY busy indeed.

The crews were engaged in the normal busy period, But that all changed when a call came that a garage on Bradford's Morley St had exploded.

This if I remember was quite a big 'Shout' and the road was closed in both directions.

Think the job started in the afternoon? and went on a while, Until the 2nd 'BIG BIG' job came in a VERY large bonded warehouse on Preston St just by Thornton Road (Where Grattan is now)was WELL alight at about 9.30 pm.

It was a Defo MP X 20 + & TL's & HP's & HL's, BAT, CU (Unknown number)

Obviously Every pump in the surrounding & outer divisions attended and little did they know it would be 3/4 days later when the fire would be fully extinguished!!

I went and witnessed both incidents on the Sunday (Jesus) what a sight, 1 after the other both incidents were ongoing at the same time, Never seen that happen again  as yet?

Thornton Road was closed for at least 4 days in both directions and City Road as well.

I stood just by the pub on the corner of City Road by the police cordon and watched events unfold.

It was unbelievable that this job was so big and was going for 24 + hours before I went to it.

It was a VERY large Bonded warehouse with the Railway goods yard behind.

Can't think of the owners name, But there was various companies in individual units.

There was 'Wine' stored in the cellars and I think some of the Firemen had a few drops Lol!!

A large staircase collapsed into the basement with the pressure of the heat etc.

Not the biggest fire in the history of WY, Compared to Arundel St, Nelson St, Collids, Lavers etc.

But worthy of being in the 'Top 10' of all time.

I couldn't see Thornton Road for the canvas hoses (A bunch of bastards) in Firefighters terms!!

Don't know much about the Morley St Garage Job, Just remember watching for an hour or so before going onto Thornton Road.

They said that workmen had set off gas cylinders? and the whole garage went up?

No photos or information on this as yet.

You could actually see the smoke from Thornton Road from Morley St.

Sadly Not 1 photo taken at any of the 2 incidents - I cannot believe myself for not taking a camera, What would it have cost to take photos - not much but photos are sentimental value!!!

You just don't think about it at the time.

Did anyone else go and watch or even take any photos?

Or did you even attend on a shout?

It would be magic to see some photos & share information after so long.

Nothing much found in the T&A of the incidents.

If anyone wants anymore information on the 2 jobs I will post some more 'History'

I keep saying to people WE NEED a book publishing on all the history of WY Fire service, As there are hundreds of incidents & stories to be told.

Can't believe nobody has yet published one.

Graham - Are you busy ? Lol!!!

Cheers.

Mark Elliott.

Haven't seen any privately owned Dodge's of WY around or for sale since they were wfu in the early 1990's?

Remember Odsal's Dodge in the Dayglow colours - nice!!

Odsal, Bradford & Fgreen all ran 1 Dodge for years along with most other stations.

The TUA 38 registrations, Some of the earlier machines Bradford's pump WSS 666S? I recall.

They were renowned for  Rotting & 'Falling to bits thou' Lol!!!

Any pictures to post?

Many Thanks.

Mark Elliott.

I'm thinking of starting a club called The Eusters Club, as in 'I Euster be fireman' or 'It Euster be different in my day'. Read on and see why.....and I'll get to the 'Fire Brigade' point in a minute.....

I recently had to dial 999 for an ambulance. Although I was connected almost immediately to the BT operator, I was told that there was a 4 minute delay in West Yorkshire Ambulance answering the call, and so it was. (If you think that is shocking, bear in mind that the last time I called them, about two years ago, there was a 20 MINUTE delay !!!!!)

However, once I got through, my problems were not over.

I gave the address and the reason for calling, (the fact that my mother in law appeared to be on the point of extinction, with shallow breathing, little pulse, etc, etc.)

The operator at the other end, however, ignored my concise request and description and continued to follow what I can only suspect was a script, repeatedly asking questions that I had already answered. It seemed as if common sense had been programmed out of her!

My point is this.....the  man in charge of the new MACC at Wakefield proudly states that  'he has over 10 years experience in the call centre industry'. Well bully for him! We all know what it's like to call a call centre!  It used to be the case (there's that word again, 'Euster') that to work in Brigade Control required a modicum of common sense, and so it still is. However, within the next few years, more and more people are going to be recruited for these jobs on the basis of their call centre skills, and I can see that the excellent quality of operators that we have at the moment will slowly but surely be diluted.

The same 'Script Mentality' exists in the Police, too, as I know again from experience.

I wonder if these Call Centre Specialists think that all members of the public exist in a sort of 'London's Burning' world, living in  Coronation Street next door to Emmerdale Farm, where everyone panics and runs around like headless chickens?

Eeee....when I were a lad It Euster be different, we took our own calls, and t'public were lucky if we answered 'em because of all t'cleaning and dusting we had to do, and all't memorising of General Order 1/1960 (that'll rattle a few cages...) , but you try telling 'em that today, and they won't believe you!

 Luxury!

By the way, mum in law is in hospital still (6 weeks later). The Paramedic was here in two minutes, and saved her life as far as I am concerned, but the ambulance was a further 25. What a state of affairs we are getting to.....

Hi folks,

I've just bought two personalised mugs from an EBay shop/site, and I'm well pleased.

The shop is called personalisedgifts4you, and the owner goes under the name of YORKIE6065. He's a Barnsley lad, and answers questions rapidly.

If it is allowed on this site, I can really recommend this shop.

The mug I have bought has a Leeds Dennis F8 (ex Dewsbury Road if I am correct) on one side, and the West Yorkshire badge on the other.

A bit of a mix, I know, but he's only just started doing Fire Service and he's looking for a Dennis F12 for me.

He'll do any mix and match that you want....providing he can find the badge!

John

Hi everyone,

On friday afternoon I was passing Birkenshaw HQ, And I decided to drive up to the Workshops.

Parked by the MACC and walked into the workshops yard.

There was no one around to ask if ok, So I took about 6 photos by the side of the building.

I had actually just finished taking photos, When a manager came out of a side door, And asked me what I was doing?

Obviously I had a camera in my hand, And he asked how I had walked in?

He didn't seem bothered to ask if I was a member of WY Fire & Rescue or not, He just asked me to leave the premises.

I didn't want to make an argument, So I mentioned a few names of employees at the workshops, And we parted on good terms.

This is the first time I have ever been asked to leave when taking photos, And was surprised at the response.

Noted in the yard was:

YD52 WUL, X198 NDN, YJ58 DJH?, YJ56 EOA, And a Brand New Landrover!

I have never been aware of any signs or restricted access around the workshops etc?

Is there anyone you should ask for permission before entering Fire HQ?, As I have seen other cars & delivery vans driving in reugularly, The barrier is always on green.

Cheers

Mark Elliot.

Hi Graham,

I've recently changed broadband supplier, and have tried to change my e-mail address on this site....to no avail!

I've had to rejoin, and hence now have two profiles, (until I remove one of them).

Have I missed something, or is it really impossible to change an email address without rejoining?

Best regards,

John Stead

What a day May 11th 1985 turned out to be for everyone.

The day turned out to be one of the most horrific for the firemen of WY, And especially the new station officer on Green watch at Nelson St.

Allen Jones was ironically on his first day as station officer after taking over from Ted Maskill who moved over to Shipley.

An unbelievable coincidence, And one that I am sure Allen and his colleagues will never forget.

The initial PDA was pumps 3 + TL + HP, But Allen radioed back and made pumps 8, And so on upto 12 ? in total.

I was at Valley Parade that day and I saw everything.

My heartfelft condolences to the family & friends of the poor people who lost their lives that very sad day.

R.I.P

Was just wondering what the plan is for Nelson St, Will it be ever used again which would be highly unlikely or has WY Fire found a buyer?

Being built on the same site as the victorian Fire station, The station had it's own ghost who liked to play snooker upstairs especially in the early hours!!

An ex Bfd fireman friend, told me that every now and then they would hear the balls banging and cracking away in the games room.

So one night he sat downstairs by the radio room expecting it to be a few of the watch lads playing a prank on the lone person who was on radio duty.

The lad who had been spooked earlier, Was too frightened and whitefaced to sit alone in the radio room, So they both sat there and waited.

Eventually they heard the noises from the games room, So they both ran upstairs and opened the door expecting to find the lads there?

But no, They were all asleep in the rest room, And there was no possible way that they could have played with the balls and gone to the rest room so quick!!

There was no explanation.

I bet there are plenty of similar spooky stories about working the nightwatch at Nelson St?