At approximately 4pm on Monday the 22nd of May, a fire broke out at the (thankfully) disused Victoria Hospital in Edinburgh. A severe fire, the incident was declared a Level 3 incident, with 9 pumps and many specialist vehicles being deployed to the scene, from Edinburgh, Fife, and Central Scotland.
Such a void was left by the amount of units deployed to the fire that more units had to be brought in from Fife and Central to cover the city while the fire was in progress.
MX09 KRF - Iveco Daily - DIM - McDonald Road
McDonald Road's DIM parked up on blues after arriving on the scene. The Detection Investigation and Monitoring (DIM) van is used to locate and determine hazardous materials so crews can deal with them safely.
Through the trees, McDonald Road's Hydraulic Platform (HP) can be seen getting into position for an aerial attack.
Wouldn't want to be that firefighter.....
An Unmarked Jaguar Officer's car parked up outside the gates to the hospital. Having not seen it arrive, we did not recognize it as being part of the emergency services until the police started asking drivers to move their cars. On inspection, the dash and grille lights revealed it was an officers car!
SN11 EGU - Scania P280 - K01P2 - Crewe Toll
Crewe Toll's Second pump parks up on standby outside the hospital grounds. Not amazing sure why, but with all 8 other pumps goring straight into the scene, this pump stayed outside for the entire duration we were there (with the crew still inside)
SN11 EGU - Scania P280 - K01P2 - Crewe Toll &
SN64 UAO - Scania P260 - K06P1 - Sightill
Sighthill's first pump arrives on scene, with some of the crew disembarking to get instructions from the ground commanders
SN11 EGU - Scania P280 - K01P2 - Crewe Toll &
SN64 UAO - Scania P260 - K06P1 - Sightill
Instructions received, Sighthill's pump pulls away toenter the grounds of the hospital and start tackling the fire.
SN09 BKO - Scania P340 - Prime Mover - K01T1 -Crewe Toll
SN11 EGU - Scania P280 - K01P2 - Crewe Toll
2 of Crewe Toll's appliances parked up outside the scene of the fire, as the Prime Mover begins preparations to decant the Environmental Protection pod
Another look through the hedge as the fire rages inside the disused hospital
An unmarked Audi Officer's Car parked up outside the gates to the Hospital
Police Officers guard the entrance to the hospital, and the water hoses leading up to the hospital. With no fire hydrants in the grounds of the hospital, standpipes were inserted into hydrants on the main road, and had to pumped to appliances at the fire.
Given the distance, 2 appliances were needed to pump water from the hydrants to the appliances actively tackling the fire.
A friend of mines that stays near the fire reported that their water had to be cut to divert water to units tackling the fire
SN09 BKO - Scania P340 - K01T1 - Prime Mover - Crewe Toll
The PM decants the ENV (Environmental Protection) pod at the scene of the fire
OU61 FLN - Renault Master - FIU - Livingstone
Livingstone's Fire Investigation Unit arrives on scene
OU61 FLN - Renault Master - FIU - Livingstone
Livingstone's Fire Investigation Unit arrives on scene
ENV SCO07 - Environmental Protection Pod - Crewe Toll
The Environmental Protection Pod sits roadside after being lowered from the PM.
SN09 BKO - Scania P340 - K01T1 - Prime Mover - Crewe Toll
The now-empty Prime Mover stays parked up for further instructions
SN09 BKO - Scania P340 - K01T1 - Prime Mover - Crewe Toll
After dropping of the ENV pod, the Prime Mover returns to the station to pick up the Welfare pod - which is a portable rest area for emergency service personell to use when they will be at the scene for a long time.
SN14 GMO - Honda CRV - Paramedic RRV
A Rapid Response Vehicle passes the scene of the fire. With paramedics already in attendance, it is likely that this vehicles was not involved with the fire
Police over the road outside the gates to the hospital. With fire hoses crossing the roads, diverting large vehicles and guiding in more emergency services crews was an imprtant role for the police
EX64 WVN - Ford Focus Estate - Fire Car
A fire car sits up up outside the gates to the hospital. Arriving on blues, it was not known what station it came from.
SN13 CYG - Vauxhall Astra - Drylaw police Station
A police Incident Response Vehicle sits just around the corner from the fire
SV65 OYK - Scania P280
The 9th pump arrives on scene without blues on. Not photographed, it was closely followed by the Prime Mover now carrying the Welfare Pod
SV65 OYK - Scania P280
The 9th pump arrives on scene without blues on. Not photographed, it was closely followed by the Prime Mover now carrying the Welfare Pod