London Fire Brigade pump damaged by fire

A London Fire Brigade pump damaged by a dramatic fire which took place on the night of 15 August 1920 on the Thames at Woolwich, SE London. The barge Dorcas, laden with several thousand gallons of petrol, caught fire, burned though her mooring ropes and, drifting in the tide, blazed furiously. The Dorcas collided with and set fire to two tugs, Woolwich Pier and nine other barges, a ferryboat and several buildings before grounding on the shore. By then ten London Fire Brigade pumps were waiting, but as they got to work the Dorcas blew up with flames 300 feet high. Although there were no serious injuries, firefighters had to abandon three pumps, which were all burnt out. Here are the remains of one

Barge Barges Burnt Dorcas Petrol Pumps Tugs Woolwich

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