1/14A burnt-out car lies in the wake of a bush and grass fire at Kenmore in 1951 when the area was still mostly rural. Picture: Bob Millar
Seventy years of firefighting
This week’s shocking spring fires are just the latest chapter in the long history of firefighting in Queensland. We look back at some memorable Courier-Mail photos taken since the 1950s.
2/14Firefighters saved this home in Indooroopilly, owned by Mr. E.L Jamieson, in 1957. Volunteers move furniture away from burning bushland. Picture: Ray Saunders
3/14The nuns of Lourdes Hill Convent survey damage caused by a fire as firemen dampen it down, in 1960. Picture: Al Pascoe Snr
4/14State-of-the-art trucks at the Metropolitan Fire Brigade HQ in Ann St, Brisbane.
5/1440,000 people crammed into South Brisbane to watch firemen battling a blaze which burnt out the old Cremorne Theatre in 1950. Picture: Harry Freeman
6/14The top floor of the Tower Mill Motel in the CBD on fire in 1984. Forty firemen took 90 minutes to control the blaze. Picture: Phillip Norrish
7/14A fireman wears the latest rebreathing gear in 1950 at the Metropolitan Fire Brigade HQ.
8/14A fireman and a civilian overcome by smoke during a blaze at the Sherwood Picture Theatre in 1951 are looked after by patrons. Picture: Al Pascoe
9/14Firemen doing training on an extension ladder in Brisbane in the 1950s.
10/14Firemen trying on the old brass helmets at Basil Buss Store, Fortitude Valley, in 1957. Picture: Bob Millar Snr
11/14Scene of a fire at Biloela that completely destroyed several shops in 1965. Picture: Ray Saunders
12/14The Paddington tram depot fire in 1962 destroyed 67 trams. Picture: Noel Pascoe
13/14Space age firefighter in 1971 on its way to a fire. Picture: Ted Holliday
14/14Miss US Fire Station, Carolann Toque, 15, of Los Angeles, tries on a Queensland firefighter's helmet when visiting Brisbane in 1960. Picture: Noel Pascoe