scouserdave
04-01-2007, 03:21 PM
http://www.firefightingnews.com/article-UK.cfm?articleID=28335
Mmmm! What do you think? April Fool or what? I love these stories that sound just plausible enough to make you believe. However, the article was dated 31.03.07. You be the judge:handclap:
Driver Took His Burning Lorry Load To Fire Station
A lorry driver whose load burst into flames drove his burning vehicle to a fire station along packed city streets. But firefighters were unable to extinguish the blaze burning deep within a pile of scrap metal on the back of the vehicle. So the lorry was given a police and fire brigade escort as it went back on the streets for a journey to Bootle Docks, where cranes pulled apart the cargo to allow fire crews to extinguish the blaze.
Passers-by and other motorists were stunned as they watched the lorry driving through Liverpool with flames and smoke coming from its load.
The crew at Old Swan fire station, in Queens Drive, was also shocked when the lorry arrived yesterday lunchtime.
The driver of the articulated lorry had been alerted by a motorist when stopped at nearby traffic lights that smoke and flames were pouring from the mound of scrap.
Being only a short distance from the fire station, he hauled his load around the corner to the bewildered Old Swan firefighters.
But because the fire was rooted deep inside the mix of tangled metal, the jets of water could not get in to extinguish the flames.
So, with a police escort, the heavy goods vehicle was taken down Queens Drive to the Norton scrapyard, at Millers Bridge, in Bootle docks.
Police blocked off the junctions, allowing the lorry, with flames and smoke still pouring from it, to slowly make its way to the yard as the fire brigade followed behind.
Once it reached its final destination, the lorry tipped its load and a crane pulled the mound apart so the crew could get to the fire.
Watch manager John Malloy, of Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service, said: "Sometimes we have people coming in to report fires but they don't usually bring the fire with them.
"The lorry turned up with around 12 scrap and crushed cars and one of them, right down at the bottom, probably had some fuel left in it that ignited.
"We couldn't get to the fire so we decided it would be best to get it to Norton, where it was heading anyway, and deal with it there.
"A police escort took us down there and I think every driver saw what was coming and got out of the way. There was a lot of flames and smoke but it looked worse than it was.
"This was definitely one of our more unusual jobs."
Mmmm! What do you think? April Fool or what? I love these stories that sound just plausible enough to make you believe. However, the article was dated 31.03.07. You be the judge:handclap:
Driver Took His Burning Lorry Load To Fire Station
A lorry driver whose load burst into flames drove his burning vehicle to a fire station along packed city streets. But firefighters were unable to extinguish the blaze burning deep within a pile of scrap metal on the back of the vehicle. So the lorry was given a police and fire brigade escort as it went back on the streets for a journey to Bootle Docks, where cranes pulled apart the cargo to allow fire crews to extinguish the blaze.
Passers-by and other motorists were stunned as they watched the lorry driving through Liverpool with flames and smoke coming from its load.
The crew at Old Swan fire station, in Queens Drive, was also shocked when the lorry arrived yesterday lunchtime.
The driver of the articulated lorry had been alerted by a motorist when stopped at nearby traffic lights that smoke and flames were pouring from the mound of scrap.
Being only a short distance from the fire station, he hauled his load around the corner to the bewildered Old Swan firefighters.
But because the fire was rooted deep inside the mix of tangled metal, the jets of water could not get in to extinguish the flames.
So, with a police escort, the heavy goods vehicle was taken down Queens Drive to the Norton scrapyard, at Millers Bridge, in Bootle docks.
Police blocked off the junctions, allowing the lorry, with flames and smoke still pouring from it, to slowly make its way to the yard as the fire brigade followed behind.
Once it reached its final destination, the lorry tipped its load and a crane pulled the mound apart so the crew could get to the fire.
Watch manager John Malloy, of Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service, said: "Sometimes we have people coming in to report fires but they don't usually bring the fire with them.
"The lorry turned up with around 12 scrap and crushed cars and one of them, right down at the bottom, probably had some fuel left in it that ignited.
"We couldn't get to the fire so we decided it would be best to get it to Norton, where it was heading anyway, and deal with it there.
"A police escort took us down there and I think every driver saw what was coming and got out of the way. There was a lot of flames and smoke but it looked worse than it was.
"This was definitely one of our more unusual jobs."