Firefighters share memories of blaze
Remembering the Windsor Castle fire 30 years on
Firefighters at the scene of the Windsor Castle fire in 1992 have shared memories of the day ahead of the 30th anniversary.
A fire broke out at the castle on the morning of Friday, November 20, 1992, and this Sunday will mark 30 years since the incident.
Firefighters from six counties including Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, London, Surrey and Hampshire were sent to the scene.
Crews spent around nine hours bringing the fire under control using firefighting jets, aerial appliances and cutting fire breaks in the thick, leadcovered roofs.
Teams successfully brought the main fire under control but continued for another three hours before the blaze was finally extinguished.
In total, 36 pumping appliances, seven specialist units, 25 officers and more than 200 firefighters were deployed before the blaze was thought to be under control fully.
Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was in residence at the time of the fire and some of the staff from Royal Berkshire Fire Service and Rescue Service (RBFRS) had the honour of meeting her.
In memory of the historic fire, some staff members from the service have shared memories from the day of the blaze.
Paul Thomas, group manager at West Hub, was just six weeks into his firefighting career when he was called to the fire from Dee Road Fire Station in Reading.
He said: “I always remember getting taken up on the hydraulic platform, over the top of the building.
“It was just completely glowing red inside and the Brunswick Tower was just like a huge candle.
“It was highlighted over the night sky and I’ll never forget that.
“It’s fantastic to see it all rebuilt because, at the time, you’d imagine ‘how is anyone going to get this back to its original state from the amount of
damage that was caused.’ It’s incredible how they’ve put it back together - it looks exactly the same as it did.”
Paul has just been awarded his 30-year Long Service Good Conduct medal.
Phil Knight, station manager at Newbury Fire Station, attended the fire early in his career.
He said: “It’s one of those jobs, I’ve had many, but it’s one
that stands out.
“I remember at Windsor Fire Station we all went up the tower to have a look at the Castle and you could see the plume of smoke coming from the castle.
“The streets of Windsor were lined with people, and I was quite amazed at the way they were clapping.
“That was quite nice I felt, the public cheering us on.”