Insurance companies were responsible for putting out fires before the brigades were set up as a public service.
Insurance firemen were very different to today’s firefighters; often you had to belong to their insurance company before they’d tackle the fire in your home.
Find out how these early fire brigades developed into a modern fire and rescue service.
Book a visit to the London Fire Brigade museum to find out about the history of fire fighting in the capital.
Find out how the fire service changed to keep up with the demands of peacetime London.
