Unit History: RAF Fire Service

On 31st December 1943 it is thought that the RAF Fire Service came into being with the promulgation by Air Ministry Order of the Trade of Firefighter (later changed to Fireman). To command this new Trade, Fire and Anti-Gas Officers were appointed and the school was renamed for the remaining of the war to the RAF School of Firefighting and Anti-Gas.
 
The RAF Fire Service now comes under the Operations Support area in Strike Command and receive their policy from the Defence Fire Service staff.  The RAF Fire Service was ’divorced’ from the RAF Regt years ago. Whilst Ground Defence Training officers on stations may command the fire flight because it is seen as a Force protection activity, they are more commonly commanded by an Air Traffic Controller, given the direct part they play in airfield operations.  On deployed operations, the firemen are frequently brigaded under the Force Protection Command and Control structure