Dennis fire engine

Dennis open dual-purpose appliance (fire engine), 1936: Registration number BYV 306. Currently assembled with an attached escape ladder (inv. no. 1995-155).

This 1930s fire appliance served in London for twenty years and was withdrawn from service in 1956. It shows early attempts to provide protection for the crew by bringing them inboard, whilst retaining the traditional open bodywork of the appliance. It has an attached escape ladder (1995-155), which was fitted to the appliance after it entered the collections. The addition of the ladder means it is a more representative example of the combination appliance fire engine, made up of a pump and an escape. This type of appliance emerged in the early part of the 20th century and was largely used by smaller fire brigades that could not invest in having a separate wheeled escape and pump.