Brigades

16/9/1937 East Side Bothy fire, 10 boys killed. (Irish potato workers)
Kirkintilloch Fire Brigade had a hose reel and they also carried branches and a ladder on it.(1800's?) Photo P3341 Kirkintilloch Library.

Retained disbanded 1991.(Budget cuts)

When the new call signs were being implemented in the WEST SDA over a 7 week period beginning 31/8/2020 doing 1 LSO Area per week, Kirkintilloch was changed from M03 to E01.

A great new attraction for the young, and young at heart of Kirkintilloch, is a brand new, bang up to date, fire station, down Washington way. It has everything the modern fire station ought to have, including a radio room and electrically operated front doors. Within sits a lovely big engine, and waiting to man it in event of a fire call, are firemen in smart uniforms and each with a helmet most little boys would give their right arms-well, almost their right arms-to possess.
But the fire station is not Kirkintilloch's sole property. No! It has been placed there by the Central Fire Area Joint Committee to serve Kirkintilloch and district-and the word 'district' covers quite a stretch of territory.
The new station, built at a cost of about £23,000, was formally opened on Friday afternoon by ex-Provost James Thomson of Kirkintilloch, who has been a member of the Joint Committee since its inception, and is now its vice-chairman.
The Chairman, who presided at Friday's opening ceremony, is the Kirkintilloch born convener of Stirling County Council, Mr George McLaren, who is quite proud of his kinship with the famous "dry" town which he left behind as a baby.
There was quite a gathering of members of the Joint Committee, Scottish Office officials, and representatives of the local authorities of the areas to be served by the new station. We noticed Kirkintilloch's Provost, Mr Hugh Gillies, and Milngavie's Provost, Mr John McPherson. Kilsyth Town Council were represented by their Town Clerk.
Mr McLaren mentioned that there was no parochialism among the members who agree that new fire stations should be built in the most central points in the areas to be served. Tribute was paid by Mr McLaren to the Firemaster of the Central Fire Area, Mr James T. Davidson, O.B.E., whose advice in these matters was greatly appreciated by the committee members.
Before sounding the fire alarm to denote that the new fire station was officially opened and in service, ex-Provost Thomson said:- "Just over eight years ago, this organisation, under whose auspices we are gathered here today, officially met for the first time.
"At our first meeting it was realised just how much had to be done in the Central Fire Area before we could consider ourselves really efficient and today marks a milestone in the very large building programme which has to be completed. It is, therefore, with very great pleasure that I undertake this very pleasing duty today.
"We often hear the complaint that the present fire brigade costs ten times as much as it did before the war. I must confess that at one time-before I had anything to do with the Joint Fire Authority-I possibly added my voice to those complaints but it was not long , however, before I realised that we had nothing at all.
"I refer, of course, to a proper Fire Station-with all the facilities for the Fire Brigade to run efficiently-with proper housing for the appliances and equipment and reasonable facilities for the men-whole time and part time.
"The aim of the Joint Authority is to create a really first class organisation-nevertheless, I know that the Joint Authority is with me when I say the Government of both political parties-knowing the need is national and not local-have been crying out for a really efficient Fire Service and the need for it both in peace and in war, while all the time they only contribute 25 per cent of the cost.
"The Government have always said the Fire Service was the fourth line of defence-I personally think it is higher.
"Hitherto any old property has been good enough for housing the local Fire Brigade-but so far as we are concerned that must stop, and here in Kirkintilloch we see a properly designed Fire Station, bang up to date, with everything which is needed to ensure that, so far as accommodation is concerned, the Fire Brigade has everything it needs to make it efficient.
"I am very pleased to see so many people here today-delegates from the Local Authorities, Officials from the Home Department and our Members of Parliament-and it is not without a great deal of pride that I offer you this sample of the work which we are doing in the Central Fire Area.
"I must at this point pay tribute to all who are responsible for the completion of this Fire Station. Many and varied have been my comments on the lack of progress from time to time in my anxiety to see its completion, but I must confess to a great deal of admiration for the way in which our Architect, Mr Smith, his assistants and contractors, have worked so that the building has been completed in time. This despite the many problems which had to be overcome, such as-water levels, narrow site, and the rest of it.
"With all those difficulties surmounted it is with extreme pleasure and pride that I now declare the New South Fire Station of the Central Fire Brigade open."
A representative of the contractors presented Ex-Provost Thomson with a little gift as a momento of the occasion.
There was a word too from Mr R S Nixon, Assistant Secretary, Scottish Home Department.
Following the opening ceremony, guests who included the Firemasters of Lanarkshire and Edinburgh were afforded the opportunity of viewing the new station and they later enjoyed a service of tea in the spacious and airy recreation room.
Provost Stanners, Grangemouth proposed the vote of thanks.
The following is a list of Contractors:- ( not copied)
(The Kirkintilloch Herald, October 26, 1955. Page 3)

Kirkintilloch firemen will soon no longer be summoned by the wail of the customery fire siren. They will now be called by a radio paging system which is replacing the older method.
Firemen will carry a small pocket radio set which will bleep when there is an alert. The new system will bring a more efficient fire fighting service. tests carried out by the Scottish Central Area Fire brigade have shown that the system improves the turn out of part time firemen by 30 per cent. It also speeds up attendance at fire by an average of 2 min. 11 sec.
Firemaster Sam Park said that the matter of two or three minutes could be the difference between someone living or dying.
The new system, which is the first of it's kind in Scotland, has been introduced in the Falkirk Area at a cost of £15,000 and will shortly be in Kirkintilloch.
(The Kirkintilloch Herald and Bishopbriggs Herald. Wednesday August 29, 1973 Front Page.)