1948 -1953: Chief Fire Officer H. J. Reynolds

The Fire Services Act, 1947 made provision to transfer fire fighting functions from the National Fire Service to Fire Brigades maintained by the Councils of Counties and County Boroughs. In anticipation of this, applications were invited from serving members for supervisory posts in the new organisation and Mr. H. J. Reynolds, who was then the Fire Force Commander of the No. 3 Area of the National Fire Service was selected as Chief Fire Officer (designate) by the City Council.

On the 1st April. 1948, the City of Sheffield again became a Fire Authority, but with one important difference.  Prior to the creation of the National Fire Service, the members of the Brigade were members of the Police Force and its head was a Superintendent who was responsible to the Chief Constable.  Now the Chief Fire Officer was directly responsible to the Fire Brigade Committee and through them to the City Council.

There were five Fire Stations in operation in the City, but only the Central Fire Station Division Street, was a permanent Station: the rest were temporary.  These temporary Stations were at Darnall Road, within some schools, in the old Civil Defence Camp at Norton, in a converted garage at Mansfield Road and in a war-time building at Elm Lane adjoining Cliffe House.  The strength of the Brigade was some 156 Officers and men.

The Fire Services Act 1947 imposed a duty on every Fire Authority to secure efficient arrangements for the giving when requested of advice in respect of buildings or other property as to fire protection; restricting the spread of fires; and means of escape in case of fire.  As a consequence of this a small Fire Prevention Department was set up.

It is worth noting that the pre-war brass helmet, and the wartime steel helmet were replaced with the now traditional 'fibreglass' helmet. Although the steel helmet did continue to be used for a short time by the Sheffield Fire Brigade.

Sheffield Fire Brigade Establishment:

National Rank Structure for the new Local Authority Fire Brigades:

The new rank structure closely resembled that of the NFS.

Title	Helmet Markings	Shoulder Markings	Notes
Chief Fire Officer White Helmet with 1.5" Black Band			On lapel of jacket a gorget patch of black with a centre cord of red embroidered oak leaves.
Deputy Chief Officer White Helmet with 2 x 0.75" Black Bands			On lapel of jacket a gorget patch of black with a centre red cord.
Assistant Chief Officer White Helmet with 2 x 0.75" Black Bands			On lapel of jacket a gorget patch of black with a centre red cord.
Senior Divisional Officer White Helmet with 1 x 0.75" and 1 x 0.5" Black Bands
Divisional Officer White Helmet with 1 x 0.75" and 1 x 0.5" Black Bands			Rank Marking also used for Principal Fire Control Officer - Laurel and impeller set at half scale.
Assistant Divisional Officer White Helmet with a 0.75" Black Band
Station Officer White Helmet with a 0'5" Black Band			Rank Marking also used for Fire Control Officer - Impellers set at half scale.
Sub Officer Black Helmet with 2 x 0.5" Red Bands			Rank Marking also used for Senior Fire Control Officer - Bars set at half scale.
Leading Fireman Black Helmet with a 0.5" Red Band			Rank Marking also used for Leading Fire Control Officer - Bar set at half scale.
Fireman Black Helmet with no markings			Markings also used for Fire Control Operator

In 1949 the Sheffield Fire Brigade was removed from the jurisdiction of the Sheffield City Council Watch Committee, and the new SCC Fire Service Committee was formed. Also, in 1949, when there was fear of another war, this time with the USSR. The Auxiliary Fire Service was reformed on a new organisational basis. This time, it was fully integrated with the wholetime brigade and worked with them at fires. Wholetime members also took part in exercises with the Auxiliary service using equipment kept in the local Home Office Stores to form mobile columns ready to move to any point of danger.

However, since the newly formed local authority fire brigades had need of the majority of the NFS appliances and equipment the AFS appliance fleet mainly consisted of Austin K2's towing Coventry Climax 240 gpm trailer pumps. The response in Sheffield was excellent. Within two years over 200 men and women had been enrolled and trained, and by 1953 the numbers had grown to 360. The AFS kept the uniform and khaki steel helmet of the 1939 issue, and likewise, the Sheffield Fire Brigade kept the same uniform but painted their steel helmets black with the new Brigade badge added.

On the 28th June 1950, Sheffield Fire Brigade lost its first Fireman.

Fireman Colin Hill tragically fell from a tree whilst attempting to rescue a cat. Colin's death prompted the SFB to embargo all cat rescues from above ground. From this point on the standard response to requests of the nature was; "have you every seen a skeleton of a cat in a tree?"

Also in 1950

Sites were earmarked and plans prepared for the building or adaptation of Fire Stations, but unfortunately there were considerable restrictions on Capital Expenditure.  However, in 1951 work commenced on the foundations of the new Fire Station in Darnall Road which was to replace the temporary one at Darnall Road Schools. Nevertheless, a twenty three year building programme had commenced which would culminate in Sheffield having 7 fire stations, all strategically placed to deal with any eventuality.

The utilitarian appliances of the NFS were either phased out, or re-painted, and 'fire engine red' was once again seen on the streets of Sheffield:

Chief Fire Officer Reynolds having laid the foundations for the new organisation retired in 1953, and was succeeded by Mr. B. Jones, who had been the Assistant Chief Officer.