Make Pumps 8 - Hard Days Night Hotel, Liverpool, UK (14/02/13)

[Guest]

I'm with everyone else, it's a lot of fun to see how our brothers in the UK do work.

 

In your initial post, you said the PDA for this was 2 pumps - that's about one-quarter of what most US departments would sent for a fire on the 5th floor of a commercial occupancy like this (for example, my department would send 5 engines and 3 ladder companies, plus staff officers, on the initial alarm).  How many total personnel were on the initial alarm?

 

Hi Taylor,

The two pump PDA is pretty standard across the UK to most fire responses, although in certain brigades (departments) it can vary slightly - for example the London Fire Brigade will roll with three pumps and an aerial to any call of fire within the commercial area of London.

Two pumps would bring around 9 to 10 guys to the scene, its not much but in an effort to save money nowadays, most British departments will not send aerial apparatus or special units unless they are specifically requested by an incident commander. On occasions, say for example if they are getting numerous 999 (911) calls saying the building is fully involved, or if it involves the roof of a building, dispatch can make the decision to send an extra pump or add an aerial, but this hardly happens. It all comes down to saving money sadly.

Andy