Blitz in London -- the London Fire Brigade had three fireboats in peacetime, based at Lambeth, Blackfriars, and Cherry Garden Pier,Rotherhithe. With the approach of war a greater waterborne force was necessary to tackle the likely dock fires and pump ashore much needed water supplies. Ten extra fireboats were brought into service, each one capable of pumping four tons of water per minute. In addition eight dumb barges, fitted with fire pumps, could be towed to locations and thus provide platforms from which the pumps could be operated. Seen here is one of the dumb barges.