35 Pump Fire St Pancras Way
I had been interested in both the Fire Brigade and photography since I was 13. I started taking photos at 14 after sitting outside what was J25 Tottenham, and following them to shouts on my pushbike. Pictures started appearing in newspapers. In October 1978, I was just 17 years-old.
I cant remember how I heard about the job, but I remember it being a Sunday morning. About 5.30am, I recall getting up at my parents home in Tottenham and walking to nearby Amhurst Park N16 and catching a 259 bus to Kings Cross. The bus was empty – Well it was early on a Sunday morning. I got off at Kings Cross and walked down Midland Road towards St Pancras Way. There was thick smoke in the air. I recall seeing scores of firemen and appliances, but very few police. I don’t remember what I expected to find or be able to photograph. I walked along St Pancras Way unchallenged. It was about 6.30am. I went into the grounds of St Pancras hospital, and came across a Tottenham crew, who recognized me, and told me how to get some good shots. I climbed a fire escape beside a ward, and could see over a wall.
Several appliances were lifting water from a canal, and supplying several TL`s. I then went back to St Pancras Way, and was stopped by a Police officer. I wasn`t the tallest 17 year old – although I may have been the shortest. The PC wasn’t impressed with my explanation about who I was, and suggested I go away. I walked around the block, and came to the other end of St Pancras Way, and managed to get a few more shots. I saw the collapsed wall on top of the Pump and TL. I was then again removed by another Police Officer, who told me to go behind the cordon and stand with the other members of the press. Was it time to go home. I wanted to finish the film, so remember again walking around to the hospital site. I noticed the towpath alongside the canal, which may give me access to the far side of the `Granary` building, where a lot of the building had collapsed into the canal. I walked, unchallenged across some kind of bridge, and I was actually on the Granary site. I found a Kentish Town crew, who suggested that I go through a grass area towards the main road. I remember being quite high up, and thought I would possibly be overlooking the roadway below. I passed an opening, and there was another crew. They told me they were from Whitechapel, and didn’t really think I should be there. I continued on regardless, and managed to come to a way. I looked over, and there below me was the two crushed appliances. I had an unobstructed view overlooking St Pancras Way. The press below couldn’t see me, but I was convinced I had a `special` shot, which they could not possibly have got. I took sverel shots, preying they would come out OK.
I remember walking to Fleet Street, and coming across the offices of the Daily Mail. They had used pictures of mine before.I asked if they were interested in some photos of a large fire. I understood Brigade terminology, but the guy on the news-desk looked bemused at my description. “Theres a 35 Pump Fire going on, are you interested in any photos?” I asked. “We already have some!” He said. I described mine, and he decided to take a chance. I managed to get my `film developing chitty` from the picture editor, and ran to the darkrooms upstairs. Waiting, nail biting, hoping they pics were as good as I said they were. THEY WERE. They appeared in the Daily Mail the next day, with a byline.
Photo by Paul Wood.
My first picture in a National daily paper. I had made the big time – Or so I thought……….The photo appeared all round the World in various mags. One year later, On October 1st 1979, I joined a Brigade training course at Lambeth. The rest as they say is history.
