P03 BLACKNESS ROAD

2 Pumps, 1 Aerial, 1 Prime Mover, 1 Control Unit Wholetime.

Stations

1809 Foot of School Wynd
1874 Central Fire Station
1900 New Central Fire Station,  West Bell Street, DUNDEE.
14/5/1970 Western Fire Station, Blackness Road,  DUNDEE.  DD1 5PA                                 Photo

 

Firemasters

1835 to 1837 Superintendent T. Matthew
1837 to 1845 Superintendent J. Coutts
1845 to 1870 Superintendent James Fyffe
1870 to 1873 Superintendent John W Fyffe
1873 to 1898 Captain Robert Ramsay
1898 to 1903 Captain John Ramsay
1903 to 1937 Captain James S Weir MIFireE
1937 to 1941 Firemaster William MacKay (Resigned in protest about NFS (Daily Record 30/7/1941))
1941 to 1946 Fire Force Commander A. S. Pratten M.B.E. NFS
1946 to 1947 Fire Force Commander A. Nisbet G.M.  MIFireE NFS
1947 to 1961 Firemaster J. Gibson O.B.E.
1961 to 1968 Firemaster J.Jackson O.B.E.  MIFireE
1968 to 1975 Firemaster A.Jones O.B.E. FiFireE
1975 to 1980 Firemaster A.Jones O.B.E. FiFireE
1981 to 1985 Firemaster D. Nicol M.B.E. FIFireE
1985 to 1990 Firemaster Alexander Winton
1990 to 2001 Firemaster Derek S Marr QFSM FIFireE
2002 to Firemaster Stephen Hunter QFSM BSc, MBA MCGI, FIFireE

 

Appliances

 

  First Second Aerial Emergency Tender Prime Mover Control Unit Detection Identification & Monitoring
1937 TS9481            
1975 HSR789N HSR790N JYS720G LTS855      
1976 PSP347R PSP348R JYS720G  OYJ465K      
1982 FSP923W FSP924W HSP130W     NYR857  
1990 F529OES F528OES HSP130W     FSP924W  
1992 J389JSN J390JSN HSP130W   G538STS FSP924W  
1998 N454ESN N455ESN K497MSR   G538STS FSP924W  
1999 S819PSR S820PSR K497MSR   G538STS FSP924W  
2001 Y301PSP Y302PSP K497MSR   G538STS FSP924W  
2003 Y301PSP Y302PSP K497MSR     SP51MKX  
2004 Y301PSP Y302PSP K497MSR        
2006 SP04ECF Y302PSP N374YNC        
2007 SP56FRJ SP04ECF N374YNC        
2008 SP57DXM SP56FRJ N374YNC        
2010 Feb 11 SP09AHK SP57DXM         MX09OSG
2011 Aug SP11AMV   SP09AHK       MX09OSG
26/8/2017 SP11AMV SP60CLZ P614KSP     SP09ANR At Balmossie
24/4/2018 SP11AMV SP60CLY P614KSP     SP09ANR  
2018 June SP11AMV SP60CLY SF17WGJ     SP09ANR  
2018 Nov SV65KLO SP60CLY SF17WGJ     SP09ANR  
2019 SV65KLO SP60CLZ SF17WGJ     SP09ANR  
2020 Oct SF69BHU SV65KLO SF17WGJ     SP09ANR  
2024 May SF69BHU SY19BVB SF17WGJ   SP51MKV SP09ANR  
2024 June SF69BHU SY19BVB SF17WGJ   SY70AZV SP09ANR  

SP60CLY & CLZ are spares and appear to alternate as the second appliance

 

TS9481 Leyland P
LTS855 Commer QX/Carmichael ET
JYS720G EFR 84PF/Fulton & Wylie/Simon SS85 HP
OYJ465K Albion/Firechief/Carmichael "Vista View" ET
HSR789N Dodge K850/HCB Angus WrL
HSR790N Dodge K850/HCB Angus WrL
PSP347R Dodge K850/HCB Angus WrL
PSP3348R Dodge K850/HCB Angus WrL
FSP923W Dodge G1313/HCB Angus WrL
FSP924W Dodge G1313/HCB Angus WrL Converted to CU 1999/2000
HSP130W Dodge G1313/HCB Angus/Simon SS263 HP
F528OES Volvo FL6-14/Mountain Range WrL
F529OES Volvo FL6-14/Mountain Range WrL
G538STS Mercedes 1114/ Rolonoff/TFB PM
J389JSN Volvo FL6-14/Emergency One WrL
J390JSN Volvo FL6-14/Emergency One WrL
K497MSR Volvo FL10/Bedwas/Simon ST290S ALP
N374YNC Volvo FL10/Saxon/Simon ST290-S ALP
N454ESN Scania 93M-220/Emergency One WrL
N455ESN Scania 93M-220/Emergency One WrL
P614KSP Volvo FL10/Angloco/Bronto F32HDT ALP
S819PSR Volvo FL6-14/Emergency One WrL
S820PSR Volvo FL6-14/Emergency One WrL
Y301PSP Scania 94D-260/Excalibur WrL
Y302PSP Scania 94D-260/Excalibur WrL
SP51MKV MAN LE220B/Ray Smith PM
SP51MKX MAN LE200B/Ray Smith PM
SP04ECF Scania 94D-260/Excalibur RP
SP56FRJ Scania P270/JDC RP
SP57DXM Scania P270/JDC RP
MX09OSG Iveco Daily 65C18 DIM
SP09ANR Mercedes Atego 818/Cebotec CSU
SP09AHK Scania P380/Angloco/Bronto F28ALR ARP
SP60CLY Scania P280/Emergency One RP
SP60CLZ Scania P280/Emergency One RP
SP11AMV Scania P280/Emergency One RP
SV65KLO Scania P280/Polybilt/JDC RP
SF17WGJ Volvo FM/Rosenbauer B32 ALP
SY19BVB Scania P280/Emergency One (New Gen) RP
SF69BHU Scania P280/Emergency One (New Gen) RP
SY70AZR Scania P410 6x4/Emergency One PM

SP51MKX has  the Command Support Unit Pod (CU) on it.

Pods at station Training (SUTRNG), Home Safety Unit (SUFS). There doesn't appear to be a PM here, they may use the spare PM SF06CLY which is kept at station 11 to move them. (5/1/2010)

SF69BHU was the first of the new generation Scania P280s to go on the run.

Brigades

1835 to 1941 Dundee Fire Brigade
1941 to 1948 National Fire Service
1948 to 1975 Angus Area Fire Brigade
1975 to 7/6/2005 Tayside Fire Brigade
8/6/2005 to 2013 Tayside Fire and Rescue (Name change only)
1/4/2013 Scottish Fire and Rescue Service

 

Notes

 

The Angus Fire Area Administration Scheme Order, 1958

 

                                                Equipment                                                             Wholetime

                                                1 Turntable Ladder                                              2 Station Officers
                                                2 Pump Appliances                                              4 Sub Officers
                                                1 Other Operational Vehicle                               4 Leading Firemen
                                                                                                                                38 Firemen

 

Establishment 2000

 

                                                Equipment                                                             Wholetime

                                                2 Water Tender Ladders                                    
                                                1 Aerial Ladder Platform                                    
                                                1 Control Unit                                                      

 

Establishment 2017

 

Equipment

Crewed by

 

1 Rescue Pump

Watch Manager with 4 others

 

1 Water Tender Ladder

Crew of 4

 

1 Aerial Ladder Platform

Crew of 2

 

1 Command Unit

Jump crewed by WrL crew

 

1 Prime Mover

Crewed by Retained from Balmossie

The Prime Mover has a Mass Decontamination Pod, Balmossie retained take their pump to Blackness Road and take the PM and their pump to the incident.
The Establishment is 5 watches consisting of 11 crew. (Twitter 24/12/2017)

 

This was A01 until 28/6/2004 when it became Station 1 and on ?/12/2015 it became P03 with the introduction of the new National Call Signs.

 

 

The Night I Joined The Fire Brigade

 

There’s more to a fireman’s job than what is seen by people watching him trying to get a fire under control—as I found out when I reported for duty at the Central Fire Station, Dundee, one recent evening.
I arrived at 6 p.m., just in time for the roll call of the Blue Shift as it came on duty under Station Officer James Moir, 4 Wilkie’s Lane.
There are three shifts at the Central—Red, White and Blue. Each does two days’ dayshift (8a.m.-6p.m.), two days’ nightshift (6p.m.-8a.m.) and then has two days off.

A List

After roll-call, each fireman has to check the equipment on his own appliance.
“There you are, there’s your inventory,” said Station Officer Moir, handing me a list of items the water tender carries.
I took a quick look. Blimey, by the time I got this little lot checked it would be time for knocking off at eight o’clock the next morning.
To a fireman’s expert eye I was told, the list is chicken feed. He can open a locker and tell at a glance if any thing is missing.

The Machines

Not wishing to hold up the appliances should an “Alarm” go, I passed on the checking to somebody else and had a look at the different machines.
There are four available at the Central, consisting of:—
Water Tender, manned by one station officer and four firemen It carries 400 gallons of water which is sufficient to get a line of hose in use immediately on arrival until a suitable hydrant is located. It has a two-way radio link with the control room at HQ.
Pump Escape, manned by one sub-officer and four firemen. It has a manually operated ladder, which extends to 55 feet, and also has two-way radio.
Turntable Ladder, manned by leading fireman and three firemen. This has a mechanically operated ladder extending to 100 feet.
Emergency Tender, manned by leading fireman and three firemen. It is used for chimney fires, tree rescues, persons locked out, pumping water from basements, &c.

Control Room

As the rest of the firemen trooped into the recreation room at 6.30 for an hour’s lecture, I left them and looked in at the control room (photo below). There are two women here at a time.
All 999 fire calls in Angus come here.
The girl at the switchboard looks up the number of appliances required for the job.
She then rings the alarm bell, which sounds throughout the station, at the same time switching on red lights over the machines that are to go out on the job.

Deployment

A large chart shows the deployment of men in the county. There are 10 stations—Central, Northern and Broughty Ferry in Dundee (manned by full-time firemen), and Monifieth, Carnoustie, Arbroath, Montrose, Brechin, Forfar and Kirriemuir (manned by part-time firemen).
Feeling now in a position to talk on level terms with the Blue Shift men, I joined them for the last part of their evening’s lecture.
The subject was Legislation.
“Tell me,” said Station Officer Moir, “what’s the rule for fire engines at traffic lights?”
“Oh, you just bash straight across regardless,” I said with a smug air.
The rest of the class glared at me. My cheeks went redder than the colour on the aforementioned traffic lights and I wished I were wearing firemen’s boots. I could have crept down inside them and out of sight.
“You are not, repeat NOT, allowed to go through red traffic lights,” said Station Officer Moir. “You generally find fire engines do, but only after ascertaining the coast is clear.”
Another rule says fire engines may exceed the speed limit only when going to a fire. On the way back they must stick to the limit.
I was glad when 7.30 came round and 1 was saved any more embarrassing questions.

Free Hour

For the next half hour there were small jobs to be done around the station, until at eight o’clock we trooped back into the recreation room for an hour’s free time before supper.
A large number of the men have trade qualifications. I asked what had caused them to give up their trades.
Leading Fireman Alex. Geddes, 231 Fintry Drive, used to be a slater. He joined the Fire Service in 1956 because he wanted a steady wage. There is more chance of advancement, too. He was promoted to leading fireman last September.
Fireman Sandy Batchelor, 18 Ravenscraig Road, served his apprenticeship as a painter and decorator. “But when I came out of the Army 18 months ago the painting trade in Dundee wasn’t
very stable. In the Fire Service there’s a better chance to get on.”

Canteen

The boys crowded round the snooker table—there are also table tennis, a TV set and small canteen for lemonade, chocolates and cigarettes.
The pink had just been potted when Station Officer Moir nudged me. “C’mon, I’ll show you something. Away and sit in the fire tender and see what happens.”
I had just got settled down when the alarm went. Men came scurrying from all directions (photo above).

Suspicious

Station Officer Muir jumped in the front seat beside the driver, two other firemen jumped in beside me. Within 10 seconds of the first sound of the alarm we were swinging through the narrow doors and out into Bell Street.
The men beside me changed into their boots and heavy jackets, fixed on their belts with axes and rope by their side, donned their helmets.
As we went down Courthouse Square and along Ward Road I had a feeling they were eyeing me suspiciously. Yes, it was all a ruse by the station officer just for my benefit.
I hoped I wasn’t the cause of breaking up the snooker game at a crucial moment.
Ah, well, it gives them good practice,” was Station Officer Moir’s comment.
(Evening Telegraph, Tuesday, April 18, 1961. Page 6.)

 

 

WORK AND PLAY AT NEW FIRE BRIGADE H.Q.

Today’s photo feature takes you inside Dundee’s ultra-modern £500,000 Western Fire Station In Blackness Road.
The upper floors of the three storey wing are given over to accommodation for the firemen and offices for headquarters staff.
There are no houses in the new station.

TRAINING BLOCK

A large part of the station precinct is for training facilities.
There is a 60 foot high drill tower for ladder practice (right) and a three storey block for training personnel in the use of breathing apparatus.
The three floors are connected by hatches and stair wells.
For one exercise it can be a block of houses with each floor sub-divided by portable partitions.
The next exercise could see the block being used to simulate a ship on fire, with hatches into holds, &c.
Deep tanks in the exercise yard are used to test pumps. Until the station was built the pumps had to be tested at the harbour.

LINK WITH THE PAST

A century-old fire engine has an honourable place at the entrance to the headquarters.
The engine (top right) was part of the Camperdown Works Brigade, which helped fight the £450,000 Seagate Bond fire in 1906.
It was presented to the Angus Area Fire Brigade by Jute Industries, Ltd.
The only other link with the past are “jump poles”—still the quickest way down to fire appliances in an emergency.
The Control Room is the nerve centre of the station, the most modern in Britain.
Firewomen operate the communication console with its telephones and radios.
No longer are firemen summoned into action by strident bells.
A bleeper sounds the alert and the firewomen announce over loudspeakers which appliances are required and where the fire is. They also open the appliance room doors from the console.
This modern call out system is linked to the Northern and Broughty fire stations.
Firefighting calls for a high degree of physical fitness. The station has a gymnasium (right) which would do credit to any school.
The latest fire prevention techniques and precautions have been incorporated in the new fire station. A fire alarm system is linked to the control room console.
The emergency exit lights are radioactive! A harmless element, which doesn’t need replacement for 18 years, takes the place of a light bulb and it glows luminously in the dark to illuminate the sign.
<PHOTO> TL extended against the drill tower.
<PHOTO> The steamer from Camperdown Works.
<PHOTO> Firemen in the gym.
<PHOTO> In the Control Room, Leading Firewoman Eileen Robertson (right) and Firewoman Margaret Knight.
<PHOTO> At Gullane last week, three years after they formed a golf club, the Angus Area Fire Brigade team won the British
Fire Service challenge cup. They took the Sheriff Cup (four singles and two two - ball foursomes) by four strokes from the holders, South Eastern (Edinburgh). Thirty two teams from all over Britain took part. Angus have twice been runners up. Fireman Maurice Dodds won the British Fire Protection Cup with a net 72 (85-13).
Back (left to right) – J. Ferrier, M. F. Dodds, D. Hutcheon.
Front – D. F. MacLean,
F. Tennant, J. Clark.
None of these photos are on this site.
(Evening Telegraph, Thursday, May 28,1970. Page 12.)

 

1963 With the abandonment of the site at Parker Street/Dudhope Crescent Road which had earlier been procured for the development of a new Dundee Central Fire Station, the attention of the Authority has been focussed towards the alternative of providing two Stations. These would be located on opposite sides of the central area perimeter and in modern traffic conditions would provide easier and better access to the major fire risks of the city.
A decision has now been made to acquire a site to the west at Cherryfield Lane on which a suitable Station and Headquarters can be developed. The eastern side of the city centre, however, presents a more difficult problem and enquiries in this direction are being pursued.

 

Officially opened on 14/5/1970 as the Western Fire Station.

 

 

 

If you know of any mistakes in this or have any additional information please let me know.

 

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