Sheffield's brave fire chief Tom Breaks fought many blazes - and a tiger

A decorated firefighter, an inspiring leader and a pioneer in the organisation of fire services in Britain, Breaks spent 14 years as head of Sheffield’s fire brigade.

In that time he developed the brigade into one of the most efficient in the country and laid the foundations for what would become the National Emergency Services Museum (NESM).

His remarkable career is remembered at NESM, which houses the former superintendent’s personal collection and keeps on permanent display numerous items from his time in Sheffield and beyond.

Born in Bradford in 1890, Breaks had the fire service in his blood. He grew up in stations as the son of a chief and joined the Nottingham brigade aged 21.

When World War One intervened he enlisted as a private but his skill as a firefighter soon came to the fore. In 1917 he received the Croix de Guerre and Palm for his efforts in tackling a fire caused by enemy aircraft and later was put in charge of a team of military firefighters.

The Croix de Guerre was the first of many decorations Breaks received during his career, culminating in the award of an OBE. His impressive collection of medals now forms part of the permanent display at NESM.

Following the end of the war he returned to the fire service, arriving to take over as superintendent of the Sheffield brigade in 1923, aged 32. As chief, his courage and leadership became legendary. Which leads neatly back to the story of the escaped tiger.

In 1933 a tiger featuring in a show at the Sheffield Empire escaped into the theatre’s cellar. It had already badly mauled one man by the time the fire service arrived on the scene.

Breaks disappeared into the cellar armed only with a fire hose, using the water to drive the frightened animal down a makeshift tunnel and back into its cage.

One former colleague, Jack Ryan, recalled: “In all he was down there alone with a savage tiger for more than an hour and all we could hear from up top was its roaring and snarling.

“A dozen times I was certain he was a goner. It was a wonderful moment for me when he came back safe and sound!”

That recollection came in 1962, when Breaks was honoured in an episode of the BBC TV series This Is Your Life’. On that programme another former colleague remembered the night the chief saved his life.

In 1929 firefighter George Greaves was tackling a major blaze at Worralls in Sheffield when he fell through the roof and plummeted 40 feet to the basement, trapped under mounds of rubble.

Breaks had been caught in the collapse too but, having fought his way free, went back into the building, slashing tendons in his hands as he tore through glass panes to reach the injured firefighter. Greaves, who spent six months in hospital, recalled that his chief visited him every day.

It wasn’t just in the face of danger that Breaks showed his leadership and dedication to the service. He was instrumental in the opening of a new central station at Division Street, recognising the need to expand not just the service’s operational space but also to provide better accommodation for men and their families.

He introduced open days at the station, teaching the importance of fire safety and how people could help themselves in the event of fire. And in 1931, recognising the importance of preserving the heritage of the service he loved, he began a small collection of historic objects at the Rockingham Street station that would lay the foundation for NESM.

Breaks left Sheffield in 1937, moving to the Home Office as fire brigades inspector and helping to set up the Auxiliary Fire Service, the army of men and women who would be instrumental in tackling the ravages of the Word War Two Blitz.

This led to the creation of the National Fire Service and the beginnings of the fire service we know today.

He spent his later years in retirement in Northumberland.

Speaking on This is Your Life in 1962, firefighter Bill Atkins summed up his former boss with these moving words. “Tom Breaks never just ordered firemen into a blaze. He said ‘come with me’ and led them there.””

A fine epitaph for a fine man.