Museum of Scottish Fire Heritage

Museum of Scottish Fire Heritage History is πŸ”₯ w/ 200 years plus and counting of firefighting heritage. Located in Leith we're the hottest museum in Edinburgh.
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Our museum takes you through the earliest days of the world's first municipal fire service established in 1824 to the present.

We’re proud to be part of Accessible Edinburgh: Highlights – a new guide from Euan's Guide &  helping disabled visitors ...
24/04/2025

We’re proud to be part of Accessible Edinburgh: Highlights – a new guide from Euan's Guide & helping disabled visitors explore the city with confidence. Explore the guide: euansguide.com/Accessible-Edinburgh

Welcome to a city steeped in history, buzzing with culture, and brimming with accessible adventures – and the city we’re proud to call home.

Thank you for the visit. We're glad you all enjoyed it ❀️
23/04/2025

Thank you for the visit. We're glad you all enjoyed it ❀️

In this series our volunteer Milana highlights a patch/badge the museum has received from visiting firefighters from aro...
22/04/2025

In this series our volunteer Milana highlights a patch/badge the museum has received from visiting firefighters from around the world.

πŸš’πŸ”₯ ARLINGTON FIRE DEPARTMENT πŸ”₯πŸš’
πŸ’₯ Serving & Protecting Since 1940 πŸ’₯

πŸ“ Location: Arlington, Texas
πŸ›  Established: 1940
πŸš’ Fire Stations: Multiple stations citywide
πŸ‘¨β€πŸš’ Personnel: Highly trained firefighters & paramedics
πŸ™ Serving a Growing Population

πŸ”₯ A Legacy of Bravery & Innovation πŸ”₯
From its founding in 1940, the Arlington Fire Department (AFD) has been at the forefront of fire suppression, emergency medical response, and community safety. The department has evolved into a highly skilled and modern force, dedicated to keeping Arlington safe.

πŸš’ Every alarm, every callβ€”AFD stands ready to serve!
πŸ”— Learn more: arlingtontx.gov/fire

🚨 Tag a firefighter and show your support! πŸ‘¨β€πŸš’πŸ”₯

Found in our archive this - advert from  Cadbury UK cocoa. Surely we all know the power of a delicious warm beverage to ...
17/04/2025

Found in our archive this - advert from Cadbury UK cocoa. Surely we all know the power of a delicious warm beverage to get you through the day. Why not make it a chocolate one!

We had a great day with people dropping in for Object Handling in the gallery. Escape the cold and wet weather this week...
16/04/2025

We had a great day with people dropping in for Object Handling in the gallery. Escape the cold and wet weather this week and drop in to learn about the amazing objects.

We asked volunteer Lesley Dickson what’s her favourite object in the museum. Her response β€œIt’s not one particular objec...
14/04/2025

We asked volunteer Lesley Dickson what’s her favourite object in the museum.

Her response β€œIt’s not one particular object, but a section of the museum that talks about Control.”

Why this display in particular? β€œI was a telephone operator at the Fountainbridge telephone exchange, working first for the Post Office and then BT. We had to monitor the emergency calls to ensure that we transferred them to the correct 999 service (fire, police, ambulance). I remember the cord switchboard and how they were connected. I’ve explained how it used to work to some of the other volunteers.”

Were any of you switchboard operators or worked for the Fountainbridge telephone exchange?

It's   and we're taking you back to these doors which once held the High Street, Edinburgh fire station.
10/04/2025

It's and we're taking you back to these doors which once held the High Street, Edinburgh fire station.

πŸš’πŸ”₯ MIAMI-DADE FIRE RESCUE (MDFR) πŸ’₯ Protecting Miami-Dade County Since 1935 πŸ“ Location: Miami-Dade County, FloridaπŸ›  Estab...
08/04/2025

πŸš’πŸ”₯ MIAMI-DADE FIRE RESCUE (MDFR)
πŸ’₯ Protecting Miami-Dade County Since 1935

πŸ“ Location: Miami-Dade County, Florida
πŸ›  Established: 1935
πŸš’ Fire Stations: 71 strategically placed across the county
πŸ‘¨β€πŸš’ Personnel: Over 2,800 dedicated first responders
πŸŒ† Coverage Area: 1,883 square miles, serving 2.7M+ residents

πŸ”₯ A Legacy of Bravery, Service & Innovation

For nearly 90 years, Miami-Dade Fire Rescue (MDFR) has stood as a pillar of strength, resilience, and emergency excellence. From fire suppression and emergency medical services to specialized rescue operations, MDFR is always ready to serve.

πŸš’ Specialized Units:
🚁 Air Rescue – Rapid medical evacuations & search & rescue missions
πŸ›  Urban Search & Rescue (USAR) - FL-TF1 – A FEMA-certified disaster response team
🚨 Hazmat & Marine Rescue – Protecting land, sea, and air

πŸ’ͺ Brave. Prepared. Dedicated. Every Call, Every Time.

πŸ”— Learn more: MDFR Official Website
πŸ“Έ Follow us:
🚨 Thinking of joining? Explore career opportunities with MDFR!

Tag a firefighter to show your appreciation!

In this series our volunteer Milana highlights a patch/badge the museum has received from visiting firefighters from around the world.

03/04/2025

Firefighter Wilson tells us his favourite piece of equipment which is stored on his favourite appliance 😊

You have questions? We may be able to get you answers! In our series of "Ask a Firefighter" - we let the public ask questions - about firefighting - and we'll get a firefighter to answer it. Drop your questions below?

31/03/2025

In the On this Day Series our volunteer, Retired Firefighter/Heritage Officer, Dave Farries QFSM, highlights important days in fire history.

A sad day for the Edinburgh Fire Engine Establishment as their first β€˜line of duty’ death occurs. Fireman No.9 Peter Mann of the Blue Engine died on the 1st of April 1826 of the injuries he sustained at the top of Dundas Street whilst enroute to a fire at Warriston, then a small village at the edge of the city, on the 26th March 1826.

Whilst it is not recorded how his injuries came about, we suspect given the information we have, that the crew were most likely arresting the Engine’s travel by hauling back on the ropes normally used to pull the Engine along (it should be noted that none of the appliances acquired by the City after the Great Fire of the previous year had any brakes). The crew would be lined along both sides of the appliance gripping the handholds of the specially made ropes attached to the front and having already descended the North side of Hanover Street past Queen Street and Heriot Row attempting to prevent the Engine from running away with them they reached the top of Dundas Street. Given the time of year, the cobbled streets would be damp and slippery with early morning dew, or even frost, and the firemen would struggle to get a grip with their leather soled and heeled boots. Despite the extensive length of the ropes Fireman Mann was obviously one of those closest to the appliance and he probably lost his footing and before action could be taken, he slipped under the wheels of the appliance and it ran over him. He was transported to the Royal Infirmary where he died 6 days later.

We are fortunate that James Braidwood, the first Master of Engines and later designated Firemaster (a term formerly used in the 1703 Edinburgh Fire Act) kept meticulous records of every fire the Establishment attended. (These records can still be viewed by prior arrangement with the Edinburgh City Archives Department) In the record of this incident he notes at the bottom that Fm Mann was injured when the appliance ran over him and was taken to hospital. He subsequently made a further note below to record Fm Mann’s death.

https://museumofscottishfireheritage.org/on-this-day-fireman-no-9-peter-mann-of-the-blue-engine-died-on-1-april-1826/?fbclid=IwY2xjawJXl3FleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHQOd5wYKzaj_8z2HZYpGjC3wnDKYxS3ND7pljYoMBsp9o1komPoZxS7xZQ_aem_GJT2c1xjFolmAskINrghFg

28/03/2025

"In the On this Day Series our volunteer, retired Firefighter and Heritage Officer, Dave Farries QFSM, highlights important days in fire history."

On Monday 28 March 1960 - Described by the Firemaster of Glasgow Fire Service, Martin Chadwick C.B.E., M.I.F.E., M.I.E.S., in his subsequent report as: β€˜With the exception of those Officers and Men of the Fire Services who lost their lives during the last war as a result of enemy action, it is the worst disaster recorded in the history of the British Fire Service within the functions of its normal peace-time tasks.’

He was describing the loss of 14 Fire Service and 5 Salvage Corps personnel at what would be become known worldwide as the Cheapside Street Fire.

The bonded warehouses of Messrs Arbuckle, Smith and Co. in Anderston, Glasgow, which at the time contained over a million gallons of whisky and rum, were open beyond their normal closing time of 5 pm on the day as additional work was being carried out. An initial call to the Fire Service at 7.15 pm reported a smell of burning wood and smoke emerging from the second floor of No.1 bond and this resulted in an initial attendance of 2 pumps, a Turntable Ladder and a Fireboat from Glasgow Fire Service as well as a Glasgow Salvage Corps Tender. Subsequently a total of 30 pumps would be in attendance amongst a myriad of other special appliances.

Initial Breathing Apparatus crews had been unsuccessful in tracing the seat of the fire and at approx. 7.50pm an explosion occurred which blew the walls, both frontages, onto their respective streets, Cheapside and Warroch.. The β€˜explosion’ was later described as β€˜more of a whoosh than a violent detonation’. Appliances were destroyed and personnel injured and killed as a result and the deteriorating fire situation, which at its peak would see 450 men engaged in firefighting and the Fireboat supplying water via 31 lines of delivery hose, made their recovery difficult. Indeed, the bodies of those killed in Warroch Street were not recovered until the morning of the 31st March and the fire burned for a week.

All 19 killed were interred in 2 vaults at Glasgow Necropolis on 5th April, 1960. Subsequently the brave actions of personnel at the incident resulted in the awarding of 2 George Medals, 3 British Empire Medals for Gallantry, a Queens Commendation for Brave Conduct and 6 letters of appreciation for personal gallantry and devotion to duty from the Secretary of State for Scotland.

Even today this incident still ranks as the Fire Services worst peace-time disaster though the fire death toll would be exceeded in November 1968 again in Glasgow.

https://museumofscottishfireheritage.org/glasgow-cheapside-street-fire/

Join us this Wednesday 26 March for a Bookbug session at 9:30am in the Community Room. Songs and rhymes for babies, todd...
24/03/2025

Join us this Wednesday 26 March for a Bookbug session at 9:30am in the Community Room. Songs and rhymes for babies, toddlers and pre-schoolers to give them the best start to their day.

Doors open at 9:20am for attendees. No need to book just turn up. However we do ask that you check our website and social media feeds in case of cancellation.

https://museumofscottishfireheritage.org/event/bookbug-2/2025-03-26/

Address

1A Dryden Terrace
Edinburgh
EH74NB

Opening Hours

Tuesday 10am - 4pm
Wednesday 10am - 4pm
Thursday 10am - 4pm
Friday 10am - 4pm
Saturday 10am - 4pm

Telephone

+441315504954

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