Synopsis
Brief Synopsis
The Glasgow Fire Service (GFS) were called to a fire on board the MV Pagensand on Friday 2nd December 1960. The vessels crew had discovered the fire on the Tuesday that week, when they were 2 days out of Gothenburg, Sweden. The Captain decided to seal the holds and make for port. Smoke still continued to come from the hold. The Captain had radioed a warning ahead that the vessel was to go to The Forth and dock at either Leith or Grangemouth but on getting closer to the UK decided it was safe enough to make it to Glasgow instead. The ship had been carrying matches and paper. When the ship docked at Princes Dock, Govan late on Thursday the officer in charge and the Captain agreed that the sealed hatches would remain in place until daylight (Forbes & Smith, 2010).
On the Friday during daylight the deck cargo was cleared and the firefighters prepared for entry into the hold. When the hatch was opened several firefighters including a Station Officer (StnO) and some Dockers went below. Within minutes there were shouts for help and 11 firefighters and a Docker had collapsed and also required rescue. The StnO died as a result of the incident (Forbes & Smith, 2010).
Pictures courtesy of The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS), Forbes, A. & Smith, J. (2010) and Kevin Legowski.
Pictures courtesy of The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS), Forbes, A. & Smith, J. (2010) and Kevin Legowski.
Pictures courtesy of The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS), Forbes, A. & Smith, J. (2010) and Kevin Legowski.
Image belived to be Station Officer (StnO) Mearns having final checks made on his equipment before descending into the hold of the MV Pagensand. From Klopper, 1961. Unknown photographer at this time.
Main findings, key lessons & areas for learning
Further information hoping to be identified and still to be located.
Fire & Rescue Service summary of main findings, conclusions, key lessons & recommendations
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FBU summary of main findings, conclusions, key lessons & recommendations
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IFE Commentary & lessons if applicable
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Known available source documents
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FRS Incident Report/s
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FBU Incident Report/s
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Scottish Health & Safety Executive (HSE) Incident Report/s and/or improvement notices
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Police Scotland Incident Report/s
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Scottish Ambulance Service Incident Report
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Building Research Establishment (BRE) Reports/investigations/research
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Coroner’s report/s and/or Rule 43 and/or Regulation 28 Notices etc
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Dear Chief Officer Letters (DCOL), FRS Circulars, FRS Notices and/or Bulletins etc and/or Related Government Correspondence
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Notifications from National Operational Learning User Group (NOLUG) and/or Joint Emergency Services Interoperability Principles (JESIP)
No information identified to date and/or still to be located.
Other information sources
Forbes, A. & Smith, J. (2010). Tinderbox heroes. commemorating the Cheapside Street disaster and the extreme challenges faced by Glasgow’s post-war fire service. Glasgow. Strathclyde fire & rescue retired employees association.
Unknown contributor/s. (circa 2016). Princes Dock. Secondary references, [online] page. Available at: http://www.firescotland.gov.uk/the-firefighters-heritage-trail/princes-dock.aspx [Accessed 16th August 2016].
Logowski, K. (circa 2016). Princes Dock. Several secondary references [online] photo gallery, Available at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/93785949@N03/sets/72157632925627932/show/ [Accessed 16th August 2016].
Logowski, K. (circa 2016). Fire heritage trail. Several secondary references [online] photo gallery, Available at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/93785949@N03 [Accessed 4th February 2017].
Klopper, H. (1961). Appointment with death. Fire. Vol. 53. Number 667. January. Page 447.
Further information hoping to be identified and still to be located.
Service learning material
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Videos available
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