Other titles:FIRES WERE STARTED [Alternative Title]
Summary: A dramatised documentary reconstruction of the work of London's firefighting services in "the bitter days of winter and spring 1940/41" - before the organisation of the National Fire Service.
Description: The action covers one day and night, and revolves around an 8-man 'Heavy Unit' crew from a dockland Auxiliary Fire Service sub-station, although the film also illustrates the roles of the various tiers of control and other units in the service. The day is spent in routine training and maintenance work; after a brief interlude of relaxation, the crew is called out to fight a serious fire in a warehouse near a ship loaded with guns and ammunition. The fire worsens as various crises (broken water mains, insufficient pumps) have to be overcome; eventually enough equipment (including turntable ladder and fire boat) is mustered to bring the fire under control, but only after one fireman is killed and an officer injured. The complete absence of damage to the important ship is, however, used verbally and in a powerful visual sequence to refute the suggestion that it was a "bad night."
Alternative Title:FIRES WERE STARTED [Alternative Title]
