Mr Murdison to act as Captain and take charge of the hose
The proposals went on at some length detailing responsibilities and fire fighting duties, one other point being that a charge of 7/6d per hour was to be made for each engine when in use.
The Brigade still depended on assistance from the public to work the engines as it is noted that for their efforts at a fire in the Horsemarket in September 1893, sixteen people were paid 2/6d and twenty two paid 2/-.
There were few changes over the years, except in payments and charges although on numerous occasions, proposals were made for obtaining new engines but never materialised.
In April 1914, the condition of the engines came under discussion by the Water Committee who concluded that "as the pressure of water (in the mains) is sufficient for the the extinction of fire in any part of the town, it is resolved to recommend that the fire engines be disposed of ". This left the Brigade with a hose barrow with various items of equipment and a three section 21 foot ladder which was housed in Bowmont Street.
The situation appears to have continued until 1938 and in April of that year, it was decided to purchase a "closed fire engine with a Jennings body" for £425.15.6d. A trailer pump and a considerable quantity of equipment was also purchased at a cost of £773.12.0d. It is interesting to note that this was subject to the Edinburgh Firemaster being satisfied that it was in accordance with specification. In addition, the Kelso Firemaster was to to be sent to Edinburgh for two weeks training. This considerable expense was added to in September 1938 when it was agreed by the Council to erect the Fire Station in Bowmont Street at a cost of £1,833.19.10d, a move which proved fortuitous with the onset of the Second World War as accommodation was readily available for the strengthened fire fighting force when the National Fire Service came into being. Kelso then came under the command of  Fire Force Commander W. B. Muir who was responsible for Edinburgh and the South East of Scotland.
After the war, the Fire Services Act 1947 was introduced by Parliament to transfer the fire fighting functions from the National Fire Service to Fire Brigades maintained by Local Authorities.
Under this Act, Scotland was divided into eleven fire areas and Kelso became part of the South Eastern Fire Brigade in accordance with the Fourth Schedule of the Act. The whole of this area came under the command of Firemaster A. B. Craig until he retired in 1962; it then passed to Firemaster F. Rushbrook who subsequently retired in 1970 and then onto Firemaster J. Anderson who retired early in 1980. Since then the Brigade has been under the command of Firemaster W. M. G. Kerr. After regionalisation in 1975, the Brigade changed its name to the Lothian and Borders Fire Brigade, responsible for approximately the same area and is under the administration of the present Fire Board.

KELSO FIRE STATION

Kelso Fire Station is sited in Eschiehaugh Park on the east side of the town. Bounded on it south side by the Ministry of Defence Recruiting Office, it has open ground to the east and north and direct access onto Edenside Road, a main arterial route into Kelso town centre. The open areas to the east and north may eventually be developed for housing. The actual siting of the Station also take account of the future re-alignment off Edenside Road which will complete a further section of the Kelso Ring Road.
The philosophy behind the design of this Station is a combination of several factors, all of which have influenced the end result. Being a Retained Station the building is unoccupied for the majority of the time hence the external fabric contains the minimal amount of traditional glazing and, in fact, the material used is not glass but is derived from plastics and has double the strength of conventional glass. The building did however require as much daylight as possible to enhance and light the internal spaces and this is obtained by the continuous clerestorey light at roof level. The building keeps a low profile, has a simple plan formation and has colours chosen to blend in with its adjacent surroundings.
The construction of the building should require minimal maintenance with concrete floors, mostly tiled, traditional brick cavity walling, farifaced externally and plastered/tiled internally and a straight-forward flat roof which is finished with high performance felt. The surrounding grounds of the building are grassed with several trees and shrubs being sited at strategic points and a Cyprus hedge to complete the front elevation and disguise the security fence.
The building contains the standard requirements for a Two Bay Retained Station which can cater for a maximum of twenty personnel and comprises the following:-

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