West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service has shared a sample of some never-before-seen pictures from its vaults that show crews from over the last 150 years. The images are being revealed as WYFRS gets ready to unveil a development to include a state-of-the art urban search and rescue training centre.
The service’s photographer Ken Wilkinson said they still have some archived photos on negatives that have never been converted to pictures. He said: “Our archive of pictures has now topped an incredible two million and we have taken this opportunity to have a look back over some of the most iconic and dramatic photos we have.
“Most of our photographs are in picture format, but there are still some that have been left as negatives, and they are just waiting to be converted. We wanted to celebrate this landmark number of photos by revealing some of the most dramatic and interesting ones we have.”
Check out some of the pictures in our gallery below.
1. Leeds firefighters in 1880
This picture shows Leeds firefighters on a two-horse drawn pump in the 1880s. Photo: West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service
2. Leeds crews and officers in 1900
West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (WYFRS) has opened its vault of pictures to give people an insight into some of the incredible photos taken over the last 150 years. Photo: West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service
3. Leeds city fire in the 1950s
The photos have been shared as the number of pictures archived by West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service reached two million. Photo: West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service
4. giton_station_1940s_-_low_res_0.jpg
This old fire station on Gipton Approach has now been repurposed as a community hub. Photo: West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service
5. Funeral for fire officer killed by German bomb in WW2
This picture shows the funeral of fire officer Soloman Belinki after he and other crew members were killed by a German bomb in Leeds in 1940. Photo: West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service
6. Firefighter at the old Ossett Fire Station in 1960
Construction of the new Ossett Fire Station commenced in September 2015 to replace the old station previously located on Dale Street near the centre of Ossett. Photo: West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service