Explore our historic equipment and uniforms A brief history of our breathing apparatus The need for firefighters to enter a burning building to enable them to extinguish a fire has always been hindered by the smoke generated from the flames – so breathing apparatus is essential. Our firefighters' uniforms – a historical timeline The clothing we wear to attend incidents and tackle fires has changed a lot. Here is a timeline of some of the most iconic uniforms and when they were introduced. The history of ladders See how firefighters have reached new heights throughout history Communications in London Fire Brigade From street alarms and telegraphs, to our modern day 999 system, how the public has contacted us has seem some significant changes. Sliding poles What goes up must come down, and sliding poles are quicker than stairs Hose A proven tool for fighting fires. Find out how things have changed with the hose we use Fire Axes Let's explore a key firefighting tool
