On April 1 Dorset Fire and Rescue Service started a new era as it combined with neighbouring Wiltshire Fire and Rescue to become the Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue.

"The British Fire service has a long and proud history of commitment to its communities through courage, dedication, innovation and professionalism, Dorset being no exception", said Terry Clapp, Poole Station Manager and Fire Apprentice Manager.

"Organised firefighting can be traced as far into the past as the Roman period and the Corps of Vigiles who were responsible for both firefighting and prevention. A water pump was discovered at a Roman excavation site in Dorset, a rare item outside of Rome."

Dorset, along with other counties suffered ' great fires' to its towns and villages, including notable fires at Wareham and Blandford Forum. Over time many Acts were passed to assist with protection and implementations against fire.

"Town, Parish and various Insurance Fire Brigades evolved and remained primarily voluntary for many years, well into the twentieth century. These brigades were strengthened in 1938 with Auxiliary sections as the prospect of war loomed

"In 1941 a decision was made to combine the 1,600 Fire Brigades into one large Fire Brigade called the National Fire Service, standardising all procedures and equipment. Seven years later on April 1 the National Fire Service came to an end and was replaced by County and Borough Fire Brigades. Many refer the date as 'The Appointed Day'," said Terry who has compiled a book on the history of the Dorset Fire Service.

Chief Fire Officer Varley was appointed in command of the newly formed Dorset County Fire Service which would be responsible for the area within the county boundaries of Dorset. Bournemouth was not included as the town was in the county of Hampshire.

The fire appliances, a mixture of pre-war and those issued for the National Fire Service, together with all other equipment and premises became the new Dorset County Fire service's responsibility.

The new fire service consisted of three full time stations, each with two watches, Red and Blue, and a retained section. These were based at Weymouth, Poole and Hamworthy. There were 18 retained stations throughout the county and these stations still serve within the same villages and towns to this day.

Firefighting has been a major part of Terry Clapp's family from Poole for four generations. His great grandfather William Henry Birch was a Poole fireman from 1919, after serving in the Great War, until 1945 and William's son-in-law Albert Clapp joined in 1937, retiring in 1965, overlapping his son Gordon who joined the Dorset Fire Service in 1957. Gordon's three uncles were also Poole firefighters. Terry continued the family tradition in 1989, eight years after his father Gordon retired as deputy commander of the Poole and Bournemouth area.

Among the family's many photographs and memorabilia of the Dorset and Poole Borough Fire Service is a heavy brass fireman's helmet worn by firemen from 1860s until 1938 when a painted leather helmet was introduced.

During 1960s Dorset County Fire Service was renamed Dorset Fire Brigade. As fire appliances were replaced with larger vehicles and improved facilities were required, a major rebuilding programme was undertaken during the 1970s and many of these stations are still in use today.

In 1974 saw the re-alignment of the county boundaries and the decision to cease the Borough Fire Brigades. Dorset and Hampshire boundary was re-aligned to include Bournemouth and Christchurch stations. The continued population increase required the building of an additional retained station at Verwood in 1992.

"Dorset Fire Brigade was renamed the Dorset Fire and Rescue Service in 1998. The introduction of Unitary Authorities created a requirement to alter the badge design to reflect the diverse range of capabilities of an ever modernising service

Fire appliances haven't been the only things to change over time. Helmets, jackets and boots have been replaced to comply with more rigid health and safety regulations. Gone have the cumbersome 'proto' oxygen breathing apparatus in circulation from the 1940s until the early 1970s that could only be used for short periods, replaced with more portable lighter cylinders.

Over the years Dorset Fire Service have attended a variety of incidents from the Kinson Pottery fire in 1957 to the Bournemouth Central Bus Station blaze and many other fires during the heatwave of 1976, from the Ebn Magid ship fire in 1986 to the huge chemical blaze at BDH on Poole Quay two years later, plus the IRA bombing in Bournemouth in 1993.

"In 1948 the Dorset County Fire Service provided a professional service at operational incidents and fire prevention. Today, Dorset Fire and Rescue Service continues to provide the same professional service but as expected of any modern service, this has expanded to provide robust internal support services and Community Safety", said Terry.