A large fire on Saturday at the Fire Service College in Moreton in Marsh, Gloucestershire destroyed 11 fire engines valued at GB pound 1.3m and the workshop they were kept in.
The fire in the single storey building – which also contained 1200 litres of diesel and 500 litres of hydraulic oil – was discovered at around 9.15am. Fourteen appliances from Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Warwickshire fire and rescue services, as well as a damage control unit and environmental protection unit, were used to help tackle the fire.
Fire crews contained the fire in the workshop, stopping it from spreading to an adjacent bay housing more fire appliances, many of which were moved to safety. The incident was under control by around 2.30pm.
An investigation into the cause of the fire is now underway.
Area manager Derek Cross, from Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service said: “The crews all worked so hard and so effectively together to ensure the fire was contained in the building where it started. This allowed us to remove the other vehicles to ensure they did not suffer any damage. It was a cross-border effort and the teamwork was superb. I’d like to thank everyone involved for their hard work.”
With the help of the Chief Fire Officers’ Association, six replacement fire engines from fire services around the country were in place at the College by Sunday.
“The College will be open as usual on Monday morning and none of the courses will be cancelled,” said the College’s chief executive, Sally Sheen. “This is down to the efforts of all the fire crews from three local fire and rescue services, who were fantastic – working together effectively and efficiently in a common purpose. It’s just what people recognise and admire about the service.”
