Great Britain Stories | Internal Blaze

[Jamie]

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It was a cold morning and dark morning, the time just brushing after 6:15am; the beginning of the morning shift for the London Fire Brigade. The start to each shift consisted of the crews presenting themselves to their Crew Manager in a single file, bunker gear folded up and sat in front of each member of 'Red Watch'. This provides the opportunity to discuss the activities for the day before the mobilize sound echoed through the station. A number of sounds followed by the announcement of "Mobilize, Mobilize" ensued, the lined up crew in an ideal position to suit up begun to place their feet in the bunker gear bottoms, raising it up before placing the jacket on and boarding their Dual Purpose Ladder truck. It was the first call out of the day. The Crew Manager retrieved the call-out sheet, boarding the passenger side of the cab...

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MOBILIZATION MESSAGE AT 04-MAR-95 06:17:12

CALLSIGNS: CHISWICK, RICHMOND
INCIDENT: 101824151

MOBILIZE MOBILIZE MOBILIZE

INC. 101824151 TOC 06:17:12 tel. 02087733400

ITD: FIRE, 3RD & 4TH FLOOR APMT BLOCK

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With two stations requested to be mobilized, the following were deployed:

• x3 Volvo 1016 Dual Purpose Ladders
• x1 Turntable Ladder TL45

Immediately departing their respective stations, it was only several minutes before the first vehicle arrived on scene and the crew immediately got to work. Two Firefighters focused on getting supply lines setup to provide a consistent water flow for the attack lines, three firefighters had prepared their attack lines. The second pumper arrived which carried out the same process except assigned four Firefighters to SCBA; an entry team to conduct a primary search. They were quick in making their entry, beginning to work through the floors to evacuate the building. Not much longer and the the third pumper and the ladder arrived which provided additional water lines to attack the fire with the Turntable preparing to use the deck-gun at the end of the ladder to provide assistance in fighting the fire whilst the Watch and Crew Managers monitored the situation.

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