Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service 50th anniversary

The organisation has been keeping the county safe since 1974 and has seen many changes over five decades. 

Although the anniversary is about 50 years of the fire service we've all come to know, firefighting was established in Cambridgeshire many years before this.

Previously, there were four fire authorities in the county of Cambridgeshire; Soke of Peterborough, Huntingdon County, Isle of Ely and Cambridge City.

In 1965, these merged into two fire services. There was one for Huntingdon and Peterborough, and another for Cambridge and the Isle of Ely.

These authorities operated side-by-side, until 1974 when due to a local government reorganisation, one force was created to cover the county of Cambridgeshire.

Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service was then born. 

Another interesting fact about Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service is that it was the first of its kind to have "Rescue" included in the name, recognising the wider response the force provides.

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Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service will be marking the 50th anniversary with a range of events and activities throughout the year.

Individual stations and their staff will be celebrating with locals.

Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service is celebrating 50 years in 2024. (Image: Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service)

Residents are encouraged to celebrate too, by leaving their comments and memories of the service in an online book available on the service's website, as well as sharing any photos of interactions with crews over the years.

Chief fire officer Chris Strickland said: “We are really proud to be celebrating half a century of serving our communities across the county as Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service.

"Everyone who joins us does so because they hold a strong desire to help others and we’re honoured to have been doing that for 50 years."