Guinness Brewery Morris Commercial Fire Tender/ Ambulance 1960 | Season 4 – Episode 19
Wheels Mar 19, 2024
In 1960, at the Guinness workshop in St. James’ Gate, Dublin, craftsmen coach built a Morris Commercial LD van into a fire tender/ambulance to safeguard the Brewery. This was a continuation of the Brewery’s longstanding practice, dating back to the 1800s of implementing its own fire prevention measures.
During the early 19th century, numerous companies operated their own private fire services. Around 1800, Guinness acquired a pumping engine to enhance their fire safety measures, supplementing the use of leather fire buckets. The Guinness pumping engine, drawing water either from a nearby stream or pond or from its own cistern filled by leather buckets, had the capability to propel a ¾ inch water jet up to a height of thirty-five feet. This equipment not only protected the brewery but also earned recognition in the Dublin Corporation’s fire records. For instance, in 1869, it played a crucial role in extinguishing a severe fire at Mrs. Eliza Plunkett’s Malt Roasting House and in 1875, it aided in quelling a fire at Marrowbone Lane distillery.
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In 1849, fire management in Dublin relied on a fleet of twenty fire engines, primarily operated on a voluntary basis. However, these engines were mostly small and considered ineffective. Nine were operated by insurance offices, three by police barracks and eleven by private establishments, excluding the Guinness brewery.
During this time, London relied on a comparable arrangement of fire engines for its fire protection. However, it wasn’t until 1864 that a municipally maintained fire service was established in London, emerging two years after the inception of the Dublin fire brigade.
In 1868, Dublin corporation built a water mains system originating from the newly constructed Vartry reservoir in Roundwood, County Wicklow. This was a notable engineering achievement of the era, however, the water pressure generated was insufficient for firefighting needs, leading the brewery to primarily rely on its 1800s pumping engine.
Some years before the turn of the century Guinness further enhanced its firefighting capacity by installing a network of private fire mains, powered by powerful stationary steam pumps, capable of generating pressures ranging from eighty to one-hundred pounds per square inch.
In the late 1800s, no actual date is known, the Guinness Fire Brigade was established as a permanent institution. New hose carts and scaling ladders were acquired, along with a substantial amount of canvas hose and an intricate two-wheeled stretcher, referred to as an ambulance carriage (litter), intended for evacuating fire victims to nearby Dr. Steevens’ Hospital. The newly equipped and enhanced Guinness fire service collaborated with the Dublin brigade on various occasions. For instance, in 1898, it proved invaluable during a major fire at the tramway company’s hay shed at Victoria Quay, and in 1899 at the Lambs Court Roast House.
Fortunately, the brewery itself experienced a remarkable absence of significant fires. However, by 1902, the old fire engine had become obsolete and was sold to the town of Edenderry, County Offaly, where it enjoyed a contented retirement, albeit not entirely devoid of activity.
1903 saw the introduction of the first petrol-driven fire appliance in England, coinciding with the brewery’s restructuring of its fire service under a permanent superintendent. Additionally, an intricate fire warning system was installed, comprising eight manually operated alarm points, 140 devices activated automatically by the heat of an emerging fire, and 18 automatic sprinklers.
At the time, this system was regarded as state-of-the-art firefighting technology, capable of initiating fire suppression measures even before the incident had been reported to the brigade’s internal telephone number, 666.
In 1960, the Guinness brewery fire brigade comprised eight senior firemen, eight driver firemen, 16 junior members, and Superintendent Michael Reddin. During working hours, five of these firemen were stationed at the new fire station built in 1960 within the brewery yard, while the rest were on call from their various roles across the brewery at any given time. At night Fire Protection was provided by four of the brigade crew who stay at 84 James Street where according to the in-house Guinness staff magazine, The Harp Journal; “there are pleasant recreational facilities and sleeping rooms”.
Furthermore, an additional twelve men could be summoned from their homes via telephone. During the 1960s, every member of the brigade held a first aid certificate, with senior officers participating in further training sessions at Tara Street fire station. The entire brigade conducted practice drills weekly to maintain preparedness. Stretchers
As a strategic part of the ongoing modernisation of the Guinness brigade, craftsmen at the Guinness garage at St. James’ Gate, coach built a Morris Commercial LD van into a fire tender/ambulance in 1960. The Morris tender/ambulance was equipped with a full medical kit, two stretchers and oxygen for patients. There were breathing apparatus and respirators be used in the event of dangerous gases encountered. Small fires could be smothered by using dry powder extinguishers.
The Beresford Stork trailer-pump, capable of producing up to 24,000 gallons of suppressant foam without needing replenishment, was deployed for more severe outbreaks. Additionally, a gantry was installed on a frame attached to the pump trailer for transporting an extension ladder.
It was noted in the 1960 article in the Harp Journal that “despite these sophisticated developments (in equipment for the fire tender), an adequate amount of strong water hose remains a basic essential of modern fire appliances”.
The Morris tender was equipped with 1000 feet of hose that could be connected to any of the breweries 200 hydrants and could deliver more than 500 gallons of water per minute.
In 1984, after twenty-four years of service, the 1960 Morris Commercial LD, PZA 406, was replaced by a custom-built ambulance/tender featuring a Mercedes 310 van with a petrol engine. The custom-built vehicle comprised two compartments: one in the front, directly behind the driver, housing fire and rescue tender equipment such as hoses, branch pipes, stand-pipes, rescue gear and breathing apparatus. Also included were portable fire extinguishers, foam compound and space for additional equipment like portable pumps and hydraulic lifting gear.
The rear compartment served as the ambulance and first aid section, accommodating two stretcher patients or one stretcher patient and four sitting patients. It was equipped with a comprehensive first aid kit, a doctor’s bag, and a portable resuscitator.
Finally, the latest piece of equipment (in 1984!) to be fitted was a radio telephone to always keep the crew in contact with the emergency base – telephone number 666.
The Morris Commercial LD fire tender/ ambulance, PZA 406 is in the collection of the National Transport Museum. It was vandalised during a break-in in 2004 and had to be re-painted. This vehicle is currently not on display but is in safe storage.
Information sources:
Come Here To Me
London Fire Brigade / Mary Evans Picture Library
NFS-AFS – Beresford Stork trailer pump
The Harp Journal 1960 & 1962
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