CHIEF FIRE OFFICERS

By Bill Broadhurst and Harry Welsh

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BELFAST INDEX

Home. Notable Dates Through History. Photographic History Belfast Fire Brigade. Fires in Belfast. Published Book "A History of Belfast Fire Brigade". Northern Ireland Fire Authority. Lisburn Fire Brigade. Northern Ireland Fire Services Historical Society. Bangor Fire Brigade. Carrickfergus Fire Brigade.

Belfast fire brigade being one of the oldest established brigades in the United Kingdom, had evolved from an early ad-hoc body into a well structured organised establishment. But during its earliest formation no one in particular would be in charge during firefighting operations, except perhaps someone of importance from within the community, who could give orders as to how the fire should be extinguished. This system would work so long as only one person was giving the orders. Occasionally people giving orders would have them countermanded by someone else who had also assumed authority, leading to confusion and arguements which would often ensue for days after the fire had long burned itself out.

The Belfast Town Council faced with such problems were forced to appoint someone who could take responsibility for the provision of fire engines to a fire, and have overall charge of the situation.

At first referred to as the Keepers of the Engines but gradually being given more responsibility for maintaining the town's fire establishment they were later referred to as Superintendent, and finally Chief Fire Officer.

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Chief Fire Officers

Name	From	To
Junior Minister (Priest)	1800	1808
Belfast Insurance Company	1808	1813
John McDowell	1814	1815 November 8
John Riddle	1815 December 6	1828 January 30
Timothy Keenan	1828 February 1	1829 April 15
Hugh Nevin	1829 June 3	1841 April 30
John Cockburn	1841 May 1	1860 May 31
Eyre Massey Shaw	1860 June 1	1861 September 15
George Reilly	1862 February 1	1892 July 6
George Parker	1892 July 7	1899 July 30
George Smith	1899 August 31	1919 July 10
James Stafford	1919 August 1	1931 June 30
John Smith	1931 June 1	1941 April 17
Benjamin White	1941 April 18	1942 April 1
David Andrews	1942 April 2	1944
George Murphy	1944	1947 December 31
John Allman	1948 January 1	1960 May 31
Frank Taylor	1960 June 1	1962 January 31
Robert Mitchell	1962 February 1	1973 April 30
Sidney Pollock	1973 May 1	1973 September 30