The Greater Manchester County Fire Service came into existence on the 1st April 1974. When it was first established, it inherited a variety of appliances and stations from Lancashire County Fire Brigade and Cheshire County Fire Brigade, plus the County Boroughs of Wigan, Bolton, Bury, Rochdale, Oldham and Stockport as well as the cities of Manchester and Salford.
Many stations were old and inadequate and soon a building programme began. Whilst appliances were more modern, there was such a variety of makes that a vehicle replacement programme began which saw the fleet become much more standardised.
At the outset two control rooms were used, the former Lancashire County control at Agecroft and the former Manchester City control at London Road Fire Station. Again to overcome obvious technical difficulties a new Fire Service Headquarters and Control Room were built, and by 1979 the Brigade had the most advanced computerised control in Europe.
Now, at the beginning of the 21st century, many of the old stations have disappeared, there is a very modern fleet of appliances, another even more advanced control room has been brought on line, making Greater Manchester one of the foremost brigades in the country.
Originally there were 5 territorial divisions, but in February 2000 this was changed to 3 operating areas.