The Enfield Fire Brigade

“I joined the Enfield Fire Brigade in 1947 and in later years became Chief Fire Officer”  

"During the war the Fire Officers concentrated on night duties around the factory. At its height there were about 36 part-time volunteers. We didn't have a proper engine but we had a Berrisford pump and were well equipped with hoses. If there was a fire, the factory would sound a hooter then all Fire Officers would dash to the fire station. It was usually a matter of extinguishing the fire before it got a good bold.”

“We only ever had small fires to deal with for example, occasionally in the hardening shop when they were quenching one of the components a vat of oil would set on fire. Sometimes a chap would put a pipe in his pocket and forget about it and it would set fire to his overalls when he hung them up. I have known cups left under the gas geysers so that the geyser got red hot and set fire to the woodwork at the back. The call-outs were quite random, sometimes we would be called out every day of the week and then nothing would happen for a week or two.”

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