Canterbury Cathedral exercise

www.romar.org.uk

Fire service historian and author

Roger Mardon

www.romar.org.uk

On 16 February 2009 Kent Fire & Rescue Service tackled a 'fire' in the roof of Canterbury Cathedral during Exercise Augustine, held to assess the response to a major incident at the World Heritage Site in Canterbury city centre. The cathedral presents specific challenges to firefighters not only because of its immense height and size but also because it houses irreplaceable artefacts and a library of priceless books.

The predetermined attendance to the cathedral is four pumps and a turntable ladder with a dedicated pump in support. On the initial call at 18.30 hours the following appliances were mobilised

mmmmmmmmmmCanterbury RPL (80R1), P (80P1), TL (80A1)

mmmmmmmmmmAylesham PL (81P1)

mmmmmmmmmmChilham P (12P1)

mmmmmmmmmmWingham P (83P1)

mmmmmmmmmmCanterbury CSU (80C1) crewed by Sturry
mmmmmmmmmmSturry P (82P1) (support P for CSU)

As the incident progressed, an assistance message was sent - make pumps 8, aerials 2, HVPU required - bringing on

mmmmmmmmmmHerne Bay P (86P1)

mmmmmmmmmmMargate RPL (87R1)

mmmmmmmmmmDover RPL (16R1)

mmmmmmmmmmSt. Margaret's P (17P1)

mmmmmmmmmmThanet ALP (89A1)

mmmmmmmmmmWhitstable HVPU with RPL (85R1)

mmmmmmmmmmSittingbourne PM/ICU (45T1), RPL (45R1) as support P

mmmmmmmmmmAshford PM/ISU (11T1), RPL (11R1) as support P

The following pages contain photographs of the scene.

For appliance types and abbreviations see here