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London Fire Brigade has carried out a training exercise at the Royal Academy of Music to test emergency rescue and salvage procedures for historic sites.
Between July 2024 and June this year, there were 282 fires at historic buildings in London. The Brigade says the figures underline the importance of keeping salvage plans up to date so crews can protect heritage assets as well as lives.
In 2023, crews responding to a fire at Somerset House used the site’s salvage plan to help protect the Grade I listed landmark after completing life-saving operations.
“As London’s rescue service our priority is always to preserve life, then the building and its contents. If you have pre-prepared plans, and know your building, you’ll protect lives, utilise valuable time and save more of your building and its contents.
“These plans are vital as they detail not only actions that should be implemented by site staff, but also clearly identify priority items which need to be removed from the building or left protected, in situ, which the Brigade can assist with.”
Mark Huntington, Sub Officer, Heritage Co-ordinator, London Fire Brigade.
The recent training involved crews from Hendon, Kentish Town and West Hampstead Fire Stations, along with a Command Unit from Park Royal. The mock incident at the Grade II listed building in Marylebone gave firefighters and the Academy’s collections team a chance to work side-by-side on the safe removal and preservation of artefacts.
“This exercise with the Royal Academy of Music was an excellent opportunity to ensure we can effectively preserve items of historical significance.
“Crews practised firefighting tactics and put plans into practical use to ensure procedures were effective in the event of a fire, ensuring that firefighters and The Academy are now fully prepared should the worst happen.”
Adam Lawson, Station Commander, London Fire Brigade.
Dean of Students Elizabeth Kenny said the Academy’s Collections Team, led by Head of Collections Susana Caldeira, found the collaboration “very productive and valuable” for testing their emergency procedures.
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