Firefighters from six counties, including Berkshire, London, Oxfordshire, Surrey, Buckinghamshire and Hampshire were sent to the scene to tackle the fire. They worked for around nine hours to bring the fire under control using firefighting jets, aerial appliances and cutting fire breaks in the thick lead-covered roofs. Thanks to their skill, courage and tenacity they succeeded in bringing the main fire under control, although the teams continued for another three hours before the fire was finally extinguished. Ultimately, 36 pumping appliances, seven specialist units, 25 officers and more than 200 firefighters were deployed before the fire was deemed to be fully under control. This 30-year anniversary is particularly poignant as it falls so close to the sad death of Her Late Majesty, and her platinum jubilee celebrations. Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth Ⅱ was in residence at the time of the fire in 1992, and some Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue (RBFRS) staff had the honour of meeting Her Late Majesty. To remember this historic incident, Royal Berkshire staff have been recollecting their memories of being at the incident early in their career and paid tribute to Her Late Majesty.
展开▼
