The Erith Fire Brigade was first formed in 1871 on a voluntary basis
but in 1894 the newly formed Erith Urban District Council took responsibility for financing the brigade although it was still staffed by volunteers. On the 8th April 1899 a purpose built fire station opened in Avenue Road which was actually connected to the Police Station by telephone which for some strange reason was initially sited in the lavatory. However this building – made of corrugated iron – was only meant to be temporary (although still in use until the 1980s) and a new station was opened on 22 June 1907 in Bexley Road Erith.
By the start of the Second World War there were 9 regular firemen plus 112 full time and 160 part time Auxiliary Fire Service members of Erith Fire Brigade. A barge was also converted into a fire float to assist with fires in buildings along the riverside as well as for pumping water from the Thames to use fighting fires. On the evening of 21st January 1944 Erith Fire Station was destroyed by enemy action although it is believed no lives were lost. A temporary building was erected on the site.
In April 1948 Erith Fire Brigade came under the supervision of Kent County Council and on 12 July 1961 the new and present station was opened in Erith Road Belvedere. In 1965 the Erith Fire service became part of the London Fire Brigade.
These notes have been taken from Ken Chamberlain’s “A brief history of Erith Fire Brigade”.
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