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#2358 HISTORY OF SETS: Town/City Fire

Did you know that LEGO has been releasing fire-related sets since 1957? From "Town Plan" to "City" and everything in between, let's explore how LEGO firefighting has evolved over the years!


Number 2358, History of Sets: Town/City Fire For as long as there have been LEGO cities, there have been LEGO fire sets. Gear up and join us for over 65 years of LEGO fire history! Images, clockwise from upper left, include two trucks from set number 570, “Fire House” from 1973; set number 485, “Fire Truck” from 1976; set number 4031, “Fire Rescue” from 1991; set number 60414, “Fire Station with Fire Truck” from 2024; and set number 6389, “Fire Control Center” from 1990.

Early Sets (a timeline) 1957: LEGO releases the first “Fire Station” (set number 1308) as part of the Town Plan line, with an HO-scale ladder truck. Image of box cover art from set 1308. Early town vehicles were a single part. This is “Bedford Fire Engine,” part #255pb01! Image of Bedford Fire Engine. 1970: The LEGOLAND theme debuts, including the first brick-built fire apparatus. Three images of trucks from set number 570, “Fire House”. 1975: Set 693, “Fire Engine with Firemen”, introduces the first firefighter figures - faceless, armless, and with an all-black torso and police cap. Images of catalog listing of set 693 and the original black firefighter figure. 1978: The Classic Town theme brings us the modern firefighter minifig and the classic tri-color flame logo. Image of first firefighter minifigure featuring stickered torso. Image of the classic fire logo, a red, orange, and yellow flame, stickered on a 2 by 4 brick. “Fire Fighter Ship” (set number 316 and 775), the first fire boat, sets sail in 1978. Image of box cover art from Fire Fighter Ship.

Classic Town (timeline continued) 1982: "Fire Copter 1" (set number 6685) is the first fire helicopter. Image of box cover art from set 6685. 1985: "Fire House-I" (set number 6385) is released, with white helmets for all the firefighters. This is odd, since white helmets are only worn by chiefs! Images of catalog listing of set 6385, the printed firefighter minifig with a white helmet, and a callout of a real life battalion chief’s helmet, also in white. 1986: The "Hook and Ladder Truck" (set number 6480) becomes the first fire set, and among the first sets overall, to use the battery-powered "light and sound" feature. Images of box art from set 6480 and a callout of the “light and sound” block. 1991: Set 4031, "Fire Rescue", is the largest fire boat from classic town. Overhead image of set 4031.

A Time of Transition (timeline continued) 1997: LEGO focuses on a younger audience with the Town Jr. line, offering a similar look in much more simplistic sets. Images of set 6554, “Blaze Brigade”, and set 6486, “Fire Engine”. 2001: The polarising "Jack Stone" sets differ greatly from all that came before and after. Image of box cover art from jack stone set number 4605. Image of Jack Stone firefighter minifigure, captioned “nightmare fuel.” 2004: LEGO mercifully returns to its town roots with the World City theme, featuring two fire boat sets and the first firefighter torso with reflective stripes. Images of reflective fire torso and set number 7046, ‘“Fire Command Craft”. 2005: The relaunched "City" line brings us our first non-child focused "Fire Station" (set number 7240) in over ten years, complete with a working fire pole! Image of set number 7240.

Modern City Era (timeline continued) 2012: Numerous changes debut, including a brand new logo, dark red helmets, and the first fire plane, piloted by the first female-coded firefighter! Images of red and yellow fire logo with a flame inside a shield, and the first firefighter minifigure, a fire plane pilot from set number 4209. 2013: The newer yellow logo gets a splash of color in "Fire Station" (set number 60004), making it resemble the classic flame. Images of updated fire color with a three-color flame, as well as the “Fire Station” set, number 60004. 2022: Along with a black and silver adjustment to the logo, neon yellow joins the color scheme to add a reflective appearance. Images of the black, silver, and red flame shield, set number 30585 “Fire Patrol Vehicle”, and set number 60321, “Fire Brigade”.

Gear Real-life firefighting gear has evolved over the years, and so have its LEGO counterparts. Take a look! The earliest torsos were black with stickers. In 1980, the coat became printed and more colourful. Images of original stickered fire coat torso and classic printed fire coat torso. 1994 saw a makeover of the black coat, and a brand new grey coat with gloves. Images of light gray torso with air gauge and gloves and late-90s fire coat with classic logo. 2012 introduced printed pants, reflective stripes, and two new colours: bright light orange and dark tan. Images of three firefighter minifigures with printed torsos and pants: one in dark tan, one in bright light orange, and one in black. Also new for 2012: a sleek dark red helmet and chief’s torso with white shirt and red tie. Images of dark red fire helmet and chief’s torso. Introduced in 2016, this detailed torso includes a right-angle flashlight and is the most realistic so far. Images of front and back of fire coat torso with callout of the right-angle flashlight, showing a real-life firefighter’s “Survivorlight”. New for 2024: these open- and removed-coat torsos depict firefighters who just returned from a call. Images of new torsos with an open fire coat and no coat.

Tools & Equipment These are the tools of the trade that help the crew keep your LEGO city safe! Cutting and Forced Entry: Images of various parts: axe (part number 3835), chainsaw blade (part number 6117), pickaxe (part number 3841), and axe, pick end with molded red head pattern (part number 39802pb01); Image of a circular saw blade with caption: Firefighters call this Circular Blade Saw (part number 30194) a “K-12 saw”, a go-to when cutting a roof. Air Supply: Images of breathing hose (part number 6158) and air tanks (part number 3838). Maintenance: Images of push broom (part number 3836), spanner wrench (part number 4006), and shovel/spade (part number 3837). Ladders: Images of ladder 9.6 centimeter 2-piece (part number bb0018c01), ladder 15 x 3.5 with side supports (part number 11299), and ladder 14 x 2.5 (part number 4207).

Tools & Equipment Communication: image of radio (part number 3962); Image of Series 19 Firefighter CMF with megaphone called out, with caption: The Megaphone with Firefighter Logo Pattern (part number 39144pb01) can only be found in the Series 19 Fire Fighter Collectible Minifigure! Image of loudhailer with caption: The Loudhailer (part number 4349) is also occasionally used as a nozzle. Fire Suppression: images of hose nozzle reel (part number 4209c02), string reel with nozzle T handle (part number 30536c02), and string reel holder 2 by 2 with elaborate nozzle (part number 2584c11); Image of space gun with caption: The Space Gun/Torch (part number 3959) was first used as a water nozzle, but it has also been used for outriggers on aerial apparatus, like the “Snorkel Pumper” (set number 6690); Image of a red tap nozzle and 1 by 1 round brick combined to make a fire extinguisher, with caption: The classic fire extinguisher is built with a round 1 x 1 brick (part number 3062) and a tap nozzle (part number 4599a/4599b).

Fire in Other Themes LEGO Town & City do not hold a monopoly on fire-related sets! Here are some notable sets from outside these themes. "Winter Village Fire Station" (set number 10263) adds a beautifully decorated firehouse with an antique engine to any holiday scene. Image of set 10263. "Fire Brigade" (set number 10197) brought a classic fire station to the modular line, and introduced fire helmets in metallic gold and silver! Image of set 10197. Ghostbusters "Firehouse Headquarters" (set number 75827), modeled after FDNY's Ladder Company 8 (an active station!), is the only LEGO firehouse without firefighters or fire trucks. Image of set 75827 with an image of the real-life FDNY Ladder 8 station for comparison.

The "Antique Fire Engine” (set number BL19002) was one of the first BrickLink Designer Program winners. Image of set BL19002. There have been numerous Technic models, including "Firefighter Aircraft” (set number 42152) which is a decent representation of the real-life Super Scooper plane. Image of set 42152 with an image of the real-life Super Scooper fire plane for comparison. Even Disney can’t help but get in on the action with the "Mickey & Friends Fire Truck & Station“ (10776)! Image of set 10776. Do you feel nostalgic for any past era of LEGO fire? Let us know your favourite fire sets in the comments!

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