35 pump Fire St Pancras Way
I was stationed at A22 Manchester Square from 1971 ( Blue Watch)I was ordered with our pump and PE to St Pancras Way together with our TL on the first make-up call. Eustons Stn.O.Ken Weston, got a rollicking for making Pumps 20 as he was driving up St Pancras Way.
A22 pump was positioned by the hospital and our TL was set next to the Spice Warehouse with C26 pump connected to it. Dick Tilling was the TL operator and Bob Marsh was sent to the top of the TL to control the monitor. The rest of us were sent up on to the roof of the hospital next door where a fire had started by the flying brands blown over from the main fire. we had 4 jets going at one time as the hospital roof was covered with asphalt and not only to douse the fire on the roof, but the radiated heat was making the asphalt melt and bubble. We cooling down the hospital roof and walls as the fire brands were raining down on us and the hospital was a major risk. Just as we were coming down of the roof for a break we heard that our TL had been crushed by a falling wall. All the crew rushed over to the TL and C26’s pump but by the time we got there the crews had already been rescued and transferred to hospital. Later when taking to the TL crew who were rescued I was told their story. Bob Marsh who was on the top of the TL directing the monitor in to the fire suddenly saw the internal walls collapsing towards them "like a pack of dominos" Bos said," I shouted a warning down the TL microphone to Dick Tilling warning him of the collapse.The internal walls fell outward knocking the outer external wall down on top of the appliances. Dick Tilling dropped down below the TL control consul and operating seat and was crushed my falling debris breaking his arm. Bob Marsh who was still clipped on the top of the TL platform was swung in and out of the fire several times as the whole TL swing violently after the wall fell on to the appliance. The Pump operator from A24 Soho who was pumping next to the TL jumped under the pump and received a broken leg as the wall fell. Sadly the Pump operator from C26 who took the full force of the falling wall and sadly lost his life.
Chris Watts