Welcome To Newton Abbot Fire Station.
(Unofficial Site) of Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service
In the event of an emergency, dial 999
The Avenue,
NEWTON ABBOT,
TQ12 2DR.
Retained
Training Night - Monday 19:00 -21:00
Number of Personnel - 21
A Brief History of the Fire Station updated. (March 2026)
with thanks to Clive Schneidau.
A Brief History of the Fire Station
The current Fire Station follows a long line of previous buildings and positions within what is now Newton Abbot.
Up until the 19th Century, fire control was mainly run and used by private Insurance Companies (Sun Life etc). These would only in normal circumstances be maintained and used for those using such insurance. Storage and manpower use was strictly to the insurer and locations are unknown. They would be handpumps carried on foot or later by horse drawn cart.
By the 1860's various Acts introduced the modern urban fire planning. Both Wolborough and Highweek maintained their own Fire Houses. Highweek Fire House wa situated at Bradley Lane behind Highweek St (demolished in the 1950's). Wolborough Fire House was also placed within Highweek Parish at Kingsteignton Road (the remains of the back and side wall is embedded within 19 Kingsteignton Road). Both had adjacent stables and both used local fields for pasture.
With the almageration of Newton Abbot and Newton Bushel into one town authority in 1901 a combine fire force was required. At some point after 1901 both Fire Houses were closed and a new position made at the rear of the Vegtable Market storage yard, exit being made trhough the street gate onto Market Place. This situation remained until 1921 when a street facing station was built demolishing the market yard wall and gate and building up from it completing the well known 1960's front of two window folding doors and the old gate, now with ateel doors.
This remained in use until the new 1972 when the current building was built. Both the 1901 and the 1921 buildings were demolished in 1977 for the Market Walk.
(son of Newton Abbot Sub Officer Andre Schneidau)
The Officer in charge during war time was a Mr. George Daw , Two Green Goddess fire appliances were stationed at Newton Abbot, followed by a merry weather pump escape and trailer pump, also during the war years a pump was stationed at Sailsbury road and was manned by the auxiliary fire service. Other appliances stationed at Newton Abbot included 2 Dennis Water Tenders, a Dennis Rapier, and now 1x Man Appliance and currently 1 x Reserve Appliance. One of the previous Dennis water Tenders (STT 319) was later taken into private ownership and later converted into a Hose Laying Appliance.
The familiar sound of the fire siren which was located on top of the central power station would send the firemen rushing to the station in Market Square, and Wednesday market day crowds would gather around to watch the pumps leave the Station.
The Current Station is located at the junction of the Avenue and Kingsteignton Road , and shares its courtyard with the Ambulance Station. It was built and opened in October 1972, And is one of 82 stations in the newly merged Devon & Somerset Fire and Rescue Service, it is a Community Fire Station (Station 28) and consists of two pumping appliances, 1 x Environmental Unit,and a total of 21 personnel, of which there are 2 Watch commanders and 3 Crew Commanders, and 16 fire fighters.
The Old Fire Station at Market street Circa 1960s
Site Last update 21/03/2026
