Wednesday, 22 June 2016

Fire Alarm at Wardown Hospital



Fire engine outside Luton Town Hall after Peace Riots, 1919 [Z1306/75/10/23/20]

Thursday 22nd June 1916: There was much excitement at Wardown Hospital last night when a fire drill was held to test the speed at which the hospital could be evacuated. The nurses have been receiving instruction from the Luton Fire Brigade for some weeks, but were unaware until after the event that the report of a fire in the hospital annexe was a test. They passed with flying colours, managing to evacuate twenty five patients from their beds in two wards in only one minute, getting the men and their bedding out on to the lawn. The Fire Brigade arrived with a motor engine just four minutes after the alarm was raised. They then carried out an imaginary rescue using lines from the first floor, and demonstrated how water could be drawn from the lake to put out any fire.

Source: Luton News, 22nd June 1916

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