Newton Abbot National Fire Service 1940
Pre War Photo of Newton Abbot Crew
Pre War Photo
Pre War Photograph of Newton Abbot Firefighters. (picture was taken at the cattle market.
(no other details known)
- Chief Fire Officer Mr A E Pickett Newton Abbot Fire Station Circa 1905 -? With Crew
Fire Ashburton College Newton Abbot
Ashburton College Blaze
8th October 1957 Ashburton College Blaze, Courtenay Road Newton Abbot. 34 boys and staff members filed out into the night to safety after being told that the building was ablaze.None of the boys or staff was injured in the outbreak which destroyed wood-constructed classrooms seperated from the main building.The flames leaping 30 ft into the air caught fire to the roof of a new wing and classrooms beneath were damaged by fire heat and water. A fireman was overcome by pungent smoke during the height of the fire he was a Newton Abbot man William Bailey who was taken to the local hospital by car for treatment.The Newton Abbot Brigade received the call at 05:00 and in quick time three appliances including one from Torquay were fighting the fierce blaze which could be seen for miles around.
Firefighters were still at work at noon turning over smouldering debris and damping down. Fire Chiefs directing operations were assistant Chief Fire Officer A Hart; Area District Officer W.Potter; and District Officer E A Kirby.
As soon as they could safely leave the Torquay crew rushed off to clean up and don best uniforms for the official opening of Torquays new Fire Station.(9th October 1957)
(Reports courtesy of the local newspapers)
Fire Pearks Dairies Queen Street Newton Abbot
Pearks Daries 21st January 1961
21st January 1961 Hundreds of passers-by crowded the Drum Clock corner at Newton Abbot on Saturday to watch firemen of two brigades tackle a blaze which shot up through two floors of Pearks Dairies shop in Queen Street. The fire started in a bacon room and within minutes flames were roaring through stock rooms bottles were exploding and glass was flying everywhere. Staff escaped from an upper window at the back of the building onto a flat roof and down a wall into a back yard. Two fire engines from the Newton Abbot station travelled just over 200 yds away as two other machines raced from Torquay. Fears for the safety of the adjoining buildings were dispelled within an hour as the blaze was brought under control, but firemen stayed on the scene for more than five hours.
Balls Corner Mid Sixties -Site of Current Station
Newton Abbot Fire Station Site before Development
Here is a newspaper cutting from the mid 1960's showing the site of the current station at the junction of balls corner, The Cooling tower in the background and the (Central Electric Generating Board) generating station was demolished in 1974.
1972 The Opening of The Current Station.
The Official opening of Newton Abbot Fire Station in October 1972, from left Fireman Eric Hyde, Sub Officer William Bailey, Mrs Francis Humpherson (Chair person of Newton Abbot Urban District Council)
Mr D H Marsden (Acting Chief Fire Officer For Devon) and Mr G R H Payne (H.M. Inspectorate of Fire Services)
Introduction of the Firefighters,
(at the official station opening 1972)
Station Officer Derek Packer introduces Mrs F N Humpherson to the Firefighters, from left Leading Firefighter George Smith,Leading Firefighter Ken Lancaster,Leading Firefighter Sam Hewings,Sub Officer William Bailey, and Station Officer Jack Collier.
Station28 Newton Abbot circa 1970 s
Station 28 Newton Abbot (Circa 1970s) Back row from left F/m John Steer, F/m Dave Masters, F/m Mike Buscombe, F/m Richard Bird F/m Steve Gidley, F/m Eric Hyde,
F/m Robert Bailey, F/m Gary Burgess F/m Anthony Winsor, F/m Pete Gribbon, F/m Colin Stocker, F/m Jock Anderson.
Front row from left Leading Fireman Colin Symons,Leading Fireman George Smith, Station Officer Derek Packer,Sub Officer William Bailey, Leading Fireman Sam Hewings. (Not in Photo Leading Fireman Ken Lancaster)
Long Service Medal Presentation 1976.
Station Officer Derek Packer (Left) and Sub Officer William Bailey (Right) at the presentation ceremony have received good conduct and long service medals. (20 years) The Presentation was at the Devon Fire Brigade recruits passing out parade held at the Brigade Training School Plympton.