Project Fire recently had the privilege of participating in the Collaborative Fire Authority and Fire Engineering Engagement Day at Burton Fire Station. This event served as an excellent platform to explore critical developments in fire protection and gain valuable insights from fire engineers and firefighters alike. Attendees included representatives from Ramboll, such as Kyle Straccia and Rickesh Miyangar, who were keen to learn and ask questions from the speakers.

One of the highlights of the event was a presentation by Ben Mossop, Senior Fire Engineer at the London Fire Brigade, who offered an in-depth look into the origins of long-established firefighting principles. For instance, the well-known requirement for fire truck turning spaces—historically believed to date back to the era of horse-drawn appliances—remains vital today due to the number of vehicles that typically respond to major incidents. A high-rise fire, for example, may involve seven pump appliances, high-reach ladder units, fire rescue teams, and fire investigation units, along with senior officers. Ensuring adequate manoeuvring space for such a large response team is essential to effective firefighting operations.

A significant case study was presented by Stuart Ruckledge, recently retired from Staffordshire Fire and Rescue, who detailed a major warehouse fire that occurred earlier this year. Despite the building’s size of 38,000m²—exceeding the 20,000m² threshold typically requiring automatic sprinkler protection—sprinklers were not installed due to an internal wall dividing the space. This wall ultimately failed during the fire, contributing to an estimated £85 million in damages. Notably, the cost for sprinkler installation, which had been quoted but not implemented, was approximately £1.5 million. This incident underscored the critical role of automatic sprinklers in minimising both property damage and risk to life, a position Project Fire has consistently advocated for.

Other sessions throughout the day included discussions on fire modelling in passenger aircraft, smoke extraction systems in communal areas, and the growing concern around battery technology fires. Attendees also participated in practical demonstrations, including a tour of a new aerial ladder platform (ALP) and an overview of the capabilities of modern fire appliances, which carry 2,000 litres of water. Demonstrations emphasized the importance of reliable water supplies, showing that this amount of water can be exhausted in under three minutes at optimal pressure.

Project Fire extends its thanks to the Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE) and the team at Burton Fire Station for hosting such an insightful and informative event. The day offered a valuable opportunity to engage with current fire engineering challenges and collaborate with industry professionals dedicated to improving fire safety.