Welcome to the Museum of RAF Fire fighting, Britain’s only museum focusing on all Ministry of Defence (M.O.D) Fire Services, including Naval Air Command Fire Service, Royal Navy, Army, Defence Fire Service, Air Ministry Fire Service and also from Civilian fire brigades worldwide.
The Museum once occupied two sites; one in Kent at the former RAF station, Manston and the main collection at RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire (also the current home of the Red Arrows).
In 2014 the collection was merged into one, all housed at RAF Scampton within the famous home of the Dambusters hangar 2 where the Annex houses rooms full of fire fighting related items dating back to Victorian times, a small selection of RAF fire engines are on show within the main hangar, all related to vehicle types that would have served at RAF Scampton over the years, this sits next to the attractions of the RAF Scampton Heritage Centre. There is then the Blue Steel hangar which houses the remaining 45 Vehicles.
In 2017 the Museum was asked to vacate RAF Scampton, and after some searching and lots of help we secured the old Eminox factory in Gainsborough, the Museum team are putting this site together to re-open to the public in 2018.
The museum tells the story of fire fighting from the earliest days to modern times through an ever growing collection of vehicles and artefacts.
A little known museum which will delight even those who wouldn’t think such a museum would be of interest to them.
New Home - no access to public yet
Museum of RAF Firefighting
North Warren Road
Gainsborough
DN21 2TU
North Warren Road
Gainsborough
DN21 2TU
W.O. Steve Shirley MBE
Museum Founder and Owner
The Museum can trace its origins back to the time when Steve received his first fire engine model, a gift from his wife Kim on the day he graduated from the Fire School at RAF Catterick in 1983. Since then the collection has grown at an alarming rate with a growing band of volunteers, a large collection of over 42 specialist crash tenders and fire appliances as well as thousands of other fire-fighting artefacts, there is something for everyone to explore and bring out the kid from within. With the ability to literally reach out and touch most of our exhibits you are able to imagine what it was like to be a fire-fighter in the past as well as how modern Fire-fighting equipment compares.