Fire Engines Photos

Great shot. What happened?

Added by David Jones on 01 April 2011.

Superb picture...Have you got any more from Flixborough Glenn?

Added by Kyle on 01 April 2011.

DAVID - I'll post the story...

KYLE - I've got more but most haven't got fire engines on them although they are spectacular, you reckon it would be ok to post them?

Added by Glenn Ramsden on 01 April 2011.

David, hope this helps. Nypro UK in Flixborough near Scunthorpe suffered a catastrophic explosion on Saturday 1 June 1974 when about 40 tonnes of the plant's 400 tonne store of cyclohexane leaked from a pipe and formed a vapour cloud 100–200 metres (320–650 feet) in diameter. The cloud, on coming in contact with an ignition source exploded which completely destroyed the plant. Around 1, 800 buildings within a mile radius of the site were damaged. The explosion was estimated to be equivalent to 15 tonnes of TNT, and it killed all 18 employees in the nearby control room. Nine other site workers were killed.



Added by Andrew Middleton on 01 April 2011.

Most of the crew are from Goole, Ben Marshall, Steve Theaker, Brian Cook, Dave Machin [Lff ?? and me at the back

Added by Alan on 02 April 2011.

Wow. How many pumps attended?

Added by David Jones on 02 April 2011.

I recognise Steve Theaker, Dave Machin and Brian Cook !- I reckon the fireman to the left with his back to the camera could be Frank Hill from Scunthorpe - The two Sub.O's in charge of the pumps on the first attendance were Gordon Parratt (my first Stn .O.) and Terry Bontoft - the Stn O. was the inimitable Brian 'Geordie' Pinder - the attendance from Scunthorpe was Bedford TK HCB Angus PE 86 DFU, Bedford TK HCB Angus WrT ABE 482K, ERF HCB Angus Simon 85' HP NFU 121F, Bedford SB HCB Angus ET BBE 157B and Bedford TK HCB Angus WrT (Foam Tender) RBE 608G - the Dennis F49 PE BEE 999L from Grimsby was driven by Dave Clark who was told later by a following police car driver that he was close to, or in excess of 100mph as he came down the A18 into Scunthorpe - Dave always claimed 'he held the unofficial land speed record for a fire engine' after that !

Added by Rick Loudon on 03 April 2011.

As the incident progressed crews were relieved and replaced by crews from the stations that had sent appliances - as with most major incidents more manpower than pumps were needed so there was an appliance holding area set up to park all the vehicles - obviously the first appliances from Scunthorpe and surrounding stations had been 'set in' and were not available to be removed/returned immediatly so crews were told to 'take an appliance from the holding area - and we'll sort it all out later' - as a result, Frank Hill who I mentioned above , although a wholetime fireman at Scunthorpe was also retained in Epworth - he was with his retained colleagues at the time of return and promptly went and chose the best looking appliance there which resulted in little Epworth having fire cover provided (for a very short time) by Lincoln Citys only Dennis F12 PE LFE 415 ? instead of 1950's Bedford VBE 274

Added by Rick Loudon on 04 April 2011.

Rick, do you know if the houses opposite Nypro on Stather Road were ever rebuilt?

Added by Andrew Middleton on 04 April 2011.

No Andrew they were demolished shortly afterwards - the Nypro Plant was rebuilt, however the demand for Caprolactum had diminished so the plant closed down a few years later - its now an industrial estate !

Added by Rick Loudon on 05 April 2011.

Rick. Many thanks for the very interesting information on this job. It sounds like there were some very interesting cover moves and stand by's. I know a pump from Tadcaster, North Yorkshire attended I think on the day after the incident took place on relief duties. I remember working with a fireman at Acomb, North Yorkshire when I was there who went from Tadcaster when he worked there.

Added by Paul Warnock on 05 April 2011.

Thought so, thanks very much. Some good footage of the incident on Youtube.

Added by Andrew Middleton on 05 April 2011.

Re the 1st attendance at Nypro, I was on the 1st pump in via the village of Flixborough, the crew was Oic Gordon Parratt, Dvr Dennis Giles, No3 ME, No 4 Frank Hill and No 5 Tony Clark. We dressed in BA and Chemical Suits but very quickly got rid of them, fire too big

Added by Peter Batty on 12 June 2011.

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