My photos and videos from Coatbridge Fire Station, Glasgow, as I was invited to the station for a look at retro appliance, that's been kept in perfect condition in private ownership! We also get a look at the rest of the station, including the other, active, appliances, training facilities, and other vehicles.
We also get to witness teams doing firefighting from height training on the drill tower!
A full house at Coatbridge Fire Station: the doors open to reveal all the pump parked up and ready to go
SF08 AFE - Scania 310 - ARP - N03D1
Coatbridge's primary appliance. a VEMA ARP, sits outside it's bay on blues
SF08 AFE - Scania 310 - ARP - N03D1
Coatbridge's primary appliance. a VEMA ARP, sits outside it's bay on blues
SF08 AFE - Scania 310 - ARP - N03D1
A look at the rear of the ARP appliance
SF10 GVW - Scania P280 - Pump - N03A2
Coatbridge's second appliance sits in it's bay.
SF10 GVW - Scania P280 - Pump - N03A2
Coatbridge's second appliance roand the back of the station while the crews train on the drill tower
SF10 GVW - Scania P280 - Pump - N03A2
Coatbridge's second appliance roand the back of the station while the crews train on the drill tower
M940 RRB - Dennis Rapier - Private
A privately owned Dennis Rapier applaince shows that age is nothing but number, with a demonstration of it's classic lightbar
M940 RRB - Dennis Rapier - Private
A privately owned Dennis Rapier appliance sits in it's bay
M940 RRB - Dennis Rapier - Private
A privately owned Dennis Rapier applaince shows that age is nothing but number, with a demonstration of it's classic lightbar
Despite it's age, the Dennis's pump is kept in pristine (and fully working) order
A look at some of the roof-mounted equipment on the Dennis. Visible are the dismountable ladders on the left, the extending light pole on the right. The red pipe-looking thing in the center is the monitor. The Dennis has 2, and they could be set up on the roof or on the ground for firefighting at a distance.
Firefighter's helmets in an easily accessible position in the crew cab of the Dennis
Front right of the Dennis has a portable pump, and some of heavy tools, fire blankets, and more hemlets
Center right has full-body gas suits, break-in tools, body bags, other tools and road safety equipment. The little green case on the bottom right is a portable oxygen mask for casualties to use in cases where they can't be immediately extracted.
A look at the break-in tools carried aboard the appliance, which can get firefighters through almost anything blocking their way!
Rear right of the appliance has the thick diameter hoses, a quick-deploy hose, standpipes and other tools. The blue container on the bottom right for mixing with water to create fire-retardant foam
The rear-left of the Dennis has more large diameter hosing, the small diameter hosing for using at heights, more standpipes and hose equipment, and a second quick deploy hose.
The center-left has electrical equipment and ropes for working at height, as well as other tools.
The front-left of the Dennis has cutting tools, command and medical bags, and some oddities. The 2 gold-coloured hoses are actually portable water sacks, that can be filled with water and worn as backpacks. The firefighters can then walk to the fire and use the hand pumps to put out the flames!
M908 DDS - Scania 220 - Outreach
Coatbridge's second retro pump is used as part of a Youth Outreach program that takes place at the station. Unlike a lot of stations that have various youth programs, Coatbridge actually has it's own dedicated building for their outreach programs.
Firefighters training on the drill tower, setting up the latter under the supervision of the Crew Manager (yellow helmet with 2 black stripes) and the Watch Manager (white helmet)
Even though it's a regular appliance, the ladders can still get VERY far. The ladders can actually reach the next window up from where it is in this photo
Firefighter prepare to tackle the fire at height. In the foreground, the firefighter on his knee connects the large diameter hose to the small diameter hose. The small diameter hose is much lighter so is safer to hoist up to a height.
At the back, the firefighter puts the nozzle and hosing into a sac, attached to a rope, ready to be raised up to firefighters waiting in the drill tower.
A firefighter performs a leg lock on the ladder, which is where you insert your leg through the ladder and lock it around one of the rungs, allowing you to use your upper body for a multitude of tasks, without falling off.
Everything in place, firefighters in the drill tower use their height advantage to tackle an imaginary fire
Everything in place, firefighters in the drill tower use their height advantage to tackle an imaginary fire
Fire out, time to dismantle as the firefighters lower the hose down from the drill tower
A firefighter supports his colleague as he dismounts the ladder
All done for now, the crews load the ladder back onto the appliance, ready for next real emergency to come through
SA12 NHO, KP62 FUM, SK57 RGV - Vauxhall Corsa - Officer Car
Several fire cars parked round the back of the station
EX64 WWP - Ford Transit - People Carrier
The Fire Reach program have their own people carrier, operated in partnership with the North Lanarkshire Council
KP62 FSC - Vauxhall Corsa - Officer Car
Another fire car parked up at the station
One of the equipment rooms inside the fire station showing of all the clothing for the firefighter on shift.
The job is more than waiting for the next call to come in, gym and classrooms help firefighters stay at the top of their game while they aren't out attending emergencies!