Forums Forums Local News Fire at Cammell Lairds Saturday around lunchtime

Was grabbing a maccies at the Rock Retail around lunch time today and looks like there was a fire on board one of the ships at Cammell Lairds. Quite a lot of smoke and lost count of the number of fire appliances that rushed to the scene, but looks like they had it out fairly handy. Sorry no pics! Makes you realise as they zoom past putting on their protective gear in the back of the fire engine etc they never know what danger they might get called to sort out. Slightly off topic was surprised to see the fire station in Birkenhead being knocked down, doesn't seem that long ago it was built.

Just been reading this on RFA site on Facebook. 8 fire engines in attendance, Severe damage to RFA Diligance. I was on it in 2004 when she caught fire in Singapore during a refit due to some Indian contractor welding in the funnel. This time it was somebody welding on the bridge according to reports. Someones gonna get his but kicked

Thank you for that story. I was wondering what had happened because a fire engine flew past me in Borough Road, then FOUR more came dashing through the tunnel with all blue lights flashing. I guessed there must be something serious going on but couldn't find out what it was.

i was in the tunnel stuck behind some Grrr driving at 35 ish mph, i there was also a bus some way back in other lane, there was a special rescue vehicle with blue light going and this git wouldnt speedup so it could undertake bus a tunnel opperatrive had one of the tolls blocked so the vehcile could speed through. they went past and they looked at me as if to say cheers, i told em not to look at me but the other car anyway it sped into lairds

Yes there was a fire onboard the diligence but was not on the bridge it was around the engine room.
As for 8 fire engines that's also untrue the real count by my eyes was 19 ! 5 of those where the command center breathing app tunnel and marine rescue units etc plus 3 fire cars and two ambulances 4 paramedic cars and there command center and two police vehicles all was put out quickly and great job in my eyes I now that I would not of liked to have been one of them going in with that smoke it was black at times
As far as I've heard from inside the yard it was a burner
And a fuel transfer system that wasn't compatable

Looks like a possible lack of comms. RFA staff transferring fuel and yard safety officer not informed of this so hot work was still being carried out in the purifier flat. Seen a couple of photo's and it looked nasty. I've fought quite a few ships fires over the years and when it's a black out, like most are, the only way you can fight it is with a TIC camera to point out the source to knock it down.

Cameraman I wasn't sure what area was called but that's the story I've heard too who was your source lol

One of the crew who's a mate of mine. Served on the Dili, Black Rover, Bayleaf, Sir Percival, Sir Bedivere, Wave Ruler, Sir Tristram. I know a shed load of them at Lairds at the moment. They all make a joke about it saying Birkenhead is the home port as nearly all the fleet are there.

Re Birkenhead fire station I think that it might of opened in that building in the 1970s so it's quite old and the requirements for fie stations have changed a lot since then.

Isn't the limit 30mph?

And isn't it suicide trying to undertake a bus because they ride over the line - especially when a bus is coming the other way.

Yeah we do have a couple of the fleet around at the moment lol All though I don't know any of the crew stay out there way

Looks like it my be the yards fault as NO fuel was being transferred. The covers were off the storage tanks due to work being carried out on the refit and NO engineering staff from the RFA where on board. The yard staff started hot work in another compartment that caused the fire and this has resulted in two major compartments being damaged. Love to see the insurance claim