Grahams Fire Page West Yorkshire Fire Service on the World Stage

WYF & Rescue Appliances

(YD52 WUL) Dewsbury Rescue Pump 2002 (YK02 TYT) Bradford ALP Bronto 2002

(B972 TVH) Bedford TK Wetherby 1985 (MWX 201V) Keighley TL ex-Bfd. PKU 833

Hydraulic Platform KKY 999G was the first Orbitor 85' Hydraulic Platform to be put on the run in this country. Bought in 1969 for the Bradford City Fire Brigade and then passed on to the West Yorkshire Fire Service at amalgamation. This appliance was based on a Bedford TKM with Carmichael bodywork and Orbitor Platform. After all it's service at Bradford, it went to the training school for a short time prior to being withdrawn from service and it's final disposal in 1986 at the Rothwell Motor Auctions.

The above images were taken on the 25th of July 1984 Bradford's HP along with 15 pumps and 2 other Aerial Appliances attended a fire at Arnold Lavers DIY Store on Wharfe street Bradford. The top three floors of the building were destroyed in the fire which had been started by a former disgruntled employee of the company. Bradford's Hydraulic Platform can be seen damping down the incident from the Wharfe street side of the Building

This Image was taken in the early 1980'swhen appliances from the Bradford area attended an Exercise at then Allied colloids New Works road the appliances that are in the image are MWX 202V a Dennis RS131, WWR 665S Dodge K1113 CFE, KWY 737K Dodge K850 Jennings and in the back drop is the Bradford HP KKY 999G Bedford Orbitor 80'

Also attending this Exercise was the Dewsbury chemical cleansing Unit from Dewsbury, WWR 611S Bedford TK with Cocker bodywork. This machine was based at Dewsbury and later at Pudsey fire station.

These images have turned up having been given them without any further information. I know that they are of South Elmsall Station and were taken during the days of The West Riding County Brigade Era. The appliance was probably around in the 1950/60's however I have no idea of the exact year.If anyone has any ideas or further information please contact me, either through the guestbook or e mail Thanks.

Sadly the line up image is so poor that registration numbers cannot be obtained from it. It would appear thought that an AFS truck is evident in the image, with a nice looking Commer by the side of this Dennis Pump escape.

Conversion Carried out on ATV Pod

The All Terrain Vehicle Pod which was based at Huddersfield fire station is set to return. This time after its conversion into the Brigades new appliance, a Water Support Unit. Although Huddersfield no longer has a prime mover Mirfield's PM will be utilised in the transport of this unit. The appliance is still being fitted out, and some equipment is still awaiting delivery.

These first shots show how the unit will appear.

The Unit will carry: 6 x LLP, 12 x Lenghts 2.4mtr.x 100mm suction hose, 6 x Avery Combination strainers, 12 x Suction wrenches
2 x Self erecting dam (6000Ltr), 4 x Collecting breaches, 4 x Controlled dividing breaches, 4 x Galena waterwall nozzles,
4 x Ground monitors, 20 x Grass beaters, 20 x Spades, 10 x Mattocks with handles, 10 x pairs of goggles, 1 x 200mtr Polyboom
10 x Cosalt crewsaver life jackets, 10 x Palm throw lines 30mtr, 20 Aid to walking sticks, 10 x level 1 Dry suits C/W gloves and bag
1 x Hysan hand gel dispenser 1ltr, 20 x Dammit clay mats 450 x 450 mm, 20 x tubs Plug and Dike, 200 x Oil Absorbent mats, 20 waste bag and ties.
16 x Boxes Disposable masks (FFP3), 16 x Lengths 23 metrer x 64mm hose, 19 x lengths 23 metre x 45mm hose

New CFS Pod(Car Fire)

This is the car now secured on the Pod. It will when completed have both flames and smoke issuing from under the vehicle and engine compartment.Another interesting concept in Community Fire safety.

Above is the Bird scarer system which goes under bonnet of the car to simulate an Explosion prior to flames and smoke coming from it.This Unit has now been fitted to the car and is awaiting Health and safety approval before it's use at events. The Birdscarer's noise output has been reduced to prevent illegal noise pollution.

B971 TVH was based at Wetherby

B961 TVH Bedford TL 1260. went on the run in 1985 and once again has Angloco Bodywork. This was a Foam Carrier based at Castleford Station due to the nearby chemical sites. This appliance served all its life at Castleford before its disposal in 1993.

SKU 443S purchased for the Brigade in 1978 . This Leyland Boxer / Harvey Frost 5 ton recovery vehicle. It was based at FSHQ Workshops from then until disposal in 1988. This vehicle went to the Motor Auctions at Rothwell Leeds and was sold on the 21st December 1988.

LADDER MAINTAINANCE

For the past few years the ladder maintainance crew have been using an old West Yorkshire Pump E160 DVH to transport ladders for repair throughout the brigade. A new truck on a Volvo Chassis is currently under construction by workshops to replace this applaince. The vehicle which is a Box van is of similar construction to the Command Unit only shorter, will be equipped with a winch mechanism to assist lifting the ladders on and off. Once this vehicle is ready I will take the images and put them on the site please watch for future update.

Update 06/01/2006: Ladder truck now well under way, winch for winching ladders on and off working well.
Update 23/02/2006: Vehicle now ready and has gone away for Painting. Update 10/03/2006: Vehicle now returned from paint shop and awaiting Brigade signs to be fitted.

Update 23/03/2006 : The ladder truck (above) is now painted up and is in the process of being taped and chevroned but a bit more stowage work has to be done, hopefully a couple of weeks should see it complete.

Update 21/07/06: New Ladder Truck on the run from Halifax.

Hemsworth New Pump YJ55 FYE

Cleckheaton New Prime Mover JY55 VWX

Pods on the Move

Rothwell Station near Leeds have now lost their Prime mover and Pods from the station.
They have been re located to Featherstone, a Retained station in the Wakefield area of the Brigade, and Stanningley near Leeds

This Prime Mover and Incident Support Unit Pod are now based at Featherstone along with the Refreshment / Personnel Carrier pod

All the Foam Pods in the Brigade have been re-located to Stanningley Station on the outskirts of Leeds.

Bulk Foam Unit Ex- Rothwell Foam Making Unit Ex- Rothwell

Foam Carrier Ex- Cleckheaton

List Below of Station with Pods and Prime Movers 01/09/2005

Station                 Appliances
Rothwell               9101 Rescue Pump
Featherstone         8401 Rescue Pump / 8412 Prime mover / 8420 Incident support unit / 8422 Personell Ref.Unit
Stanningley           3101 Heavy rescue Pump / 3102 Rescue Pump / 3112 Prime Mover / 3123 Foam Making Pod
                            31-- Bulk Foam Unit / 3125 Foam Carrier / 3119 Hose Layer / 3120 Incident support Unit
Huddersfield         Water Support Unit Pod (No prime mover) covered by Mirfield
Mirfield               8701 Rescue Pump / 8712 Prime Mover / 8719 Hose Layer / 87-- Major Salvage Pod
Hunslet               2501 Rescue Pump / 2502 Rescue Pump / 2512 Prime Mover / 2524 Major Rescue Pod
                            2527 Main B/A Control
Dewsbury            8301 Rescue Pump / 8302 Rescue Pump / 8312 Prime Mover / 8326 Hasmat Pod

As Advertised

Here are two images of the Wakefield Hydraulic Platform Reg no .VHL526J.

Above used in advertising for the new appliance, and here at an incident in Smythe Street Wakefield in 1982
As this advert shows a turnout from Wakefield station you can also see CHL 200K in the background a Dodge Water Ladder tender / Jennings bodywork. The Hydraulic platform was new to Wakefield in 1971 and served at Wakefield and Castleford before being taken out of service