Fire station wrecked in blaze had no alarm

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/10/26/nfire26.xml

By Stewart Payne

Last Updated: 2:32am BST 27/10/2006

A fire station destroyed in a blaze did not have a smoke alarm fitted, an embarrassed brigade spokesman admitted yesterday.

	The fire station which was destroyed in a blaze

The retained fire station at Arundel, West Sussex, was found to be ablaze when its part-time firemen arrived for work yesterday morning.

Smoke was belching from the unmanned building and they had to call on colleagues from neighbouring towns to put it out.

Crews in six fire engines arrived from Littlehampton, Bognor Regis, Worthing and East Preston but were unable to prevent the destruction of the building and the appliance inside. It emerged that the fire station was not fitted with any form of fire or smoke alarm.

A spokesman for West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service: "A fire alarm system is designed to save lives, whereas this building was unoccupied most of the time."

He added, however: "This incident just goes to show that fire can affect anyone.

"We don't know what caused the fire but we don't think it is arson at this stage. The fire station included a bay, a recreation room, an office and kitchenette."

Nobody was injured but about 20 neighbouring properties were evacuated as a precaution as firemen tackled the blaze.

Temporary fire cover is being arranged for the area while the station remains out of service.

Two engines crash on 999 call

Two fire engines crashed into each other on the way to a fire, Kent Fire and Rescue Service said yesterday. One ran into the back of the other as they attended a blaze in Chatham.

Four firemen were taken to hospital with whiplash and shock as two more engines were sent to deal with the fire. A fire service spokesman said an investigation was under way.

Sis sent it to me.... well... anything could happen in the UK... well well