Kotug fights Thames shore-side fire

The Rotortugs RT Leader and RT Champion were called into action after a grain elevator belt caught fire. Four local fire appliances fought the fire from the shore while the two tugs were able to contribute to bringing the fire under control using their own fifi installation, drawing water from the River Thames. Around 20% of the 150m long and 10m wide conveyor was initially found to be alight and over an hour later the fire was reported to be contained to about 30% of the conveyor belt. It was over three hours before the fire was eventually extinguished.

It is not unusual for port-based tugs to be asked to assist in shore-side fires, often able to tackle the flames from a direction out of the reach of shore based crews. The RT Leader and RT Champion each have a fifi capacity of 2,400m3/hr.

By Peter Barker