Fire Station
Local History
The first Fire Fighting team in Tayport was formed in 1891 and functioned for a number of years under the lead of Walter Pillans. The appliance was primitive being a wheelbarrow transported by manpower. These volunteers served the town well up to the introduction of the National Fire Service at the beginning of the Second World War.
After the war in 1947 all Fire Brigades returned to Local Authority control and Tayport was integrated into the Fife Fire Brigade under the control of the newly formed Fife Area Joint Committee. Tayport were at this time operating with a motorized unit and trailer pump (see picture) then a Water Tender with trailer pump, eventually receiving a Water Tender with built in pump of various designs up to the present day appliance.
The current Station was opened in 1975 as part of a program of modernization of obsolete stations. The previous station was in Dougal Street.
It’s area of responsibility lies along the northeast coastal region of Fife from Gauldry, back east through Wormit and Newport-On-Tay then south to Leuchars. In addition to these main centres of population there are many agricultural and rural dwellings not to mention Tentsmuir, a 3700-acre Pine Forest situated between Tayport and Leuchars. Major establishments include a R.A.F airfield with satellite facilities and the Tay Road and Rail Bridges, both of which provide major transport routes through North East Fife.
Early Tayport records show that in 1887, Tayport became a Burgh and was then involved in all the activities associated with setting up drainage, and sewage schemes, a water supply and so forth.
It is on record that between 1885 and 1886 a good deal was said about the inadequacy of the town’s water supply, being at that time supplied from public pumps and private wells all of which were considered by many to be unsatisfactory. Out of this controversy which according to one historian “reached very high tempo at times” came the decision to take a water supply from Dundee. Such an arrangement had already been made for the neighbouring burgh of Newport on Tay.
By 1890 an adequate water supply had been secured and thoughts were then given to the formation of a Burgh Fire Brigade. This fire fighting team was established in 1891 and functioned for a number of years under the lead of Walter Pillans who was a ‘well kent’ man of his time.
Though the appliances of the early Brigade were primative being in the main wheelbarrow transported by manpower the volunteer firemen served the town well until the introduction of the National Fire Service at the beginning of the Second World War.
In 1947 fire Brigades returned to Local Authority control and Tayport became a unit of Fife Fire Brigade under the control of the newly formed Fife Fire Area Joint Committee.
The war brought great advances in the type of fire engines available and at this time Tayport were operating with a motorised unit and trailer pump.
Further advances in appliance design saw the introduction of a Water Tender with trailer which was later replaced with a Water Tender with a built in pump, and is the one now used by the Tayport Unit. It carries 400 gallons of water and a light portable pump and is equipped with the most modern fire fighting equipment.
The opening of the new station at Tayport is part of the Fire Committee’s programme of modernisation of obsolete fire stations throughout the county and is the last one to be built by the Fife Fire Area Joint Committee before regionalisation when the Fire Brigade will come under the control of the Fife Regional Council.
sources:
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Graeme Kirkwood’s History of Scottish Fire Brigades website
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a pamphlet specially produced for the current station opening in 1975.