Reading Fire

Author
Discussion

Killer2005

Original Poster:

19,867 posts

234 months

Thursday 23rd November 2023
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BBC News - Reading fire: Crane rescues worker next to burning high rise
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-berkshire-67...

Fair play to the Crane driver, deserves a pint after this save.

bitchstewie

54,511 posts

216 months

Thursday 23rd November 2023
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eliot

11,701 posts

260 months

Thursday 23rd November 2023
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bhstewie said:
urr same video in the bbc link....

Zarco

18,387 posts

215 months

Thursday 23rd November 2023
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They had a fire on the same development (Station Hill) back in July. Wasn't as serious but bad enough.

I don't know if it's the exact same building (it's a big development with possibly more than one developer/main contractor working on it), but I wouldn’t be surprised if it is.

The demolition company also suffered a scaffold collapse into the road while they were preparing the site. Not much luck it seems!

Type R Tom

3,985 posts

155 months

Thursday 23rd November 2023
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I wonder if he had the basket on his crane from the start or got someone on the ground to change it. Either way, quick thinking!

NDA

22,191 posts

231 months

Thursday 23rd November 2023
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Killer2005 said:
Fair play to the Crane driver, deserves a pint after this save.
Absolutely! I'd buy him pints for the rest of his days.

Collectingbrass

2,351 posts

201 months

Thursday 23rd November 2023
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Zarco said:
They had a fire on the same development (Station Hill) back in July. Wasn't as serious but bad enough.

I don't know if it's the exact same building (it's a big development with possibly more than one developer/main contractor working on it), but I wouldn’t be surprised if it is.

The demolition company also suffered a scaffold collapse into the road while they were preparing the site. Not much luck it seems!
Will the HSE arrive tonight or tomorrow morning?

Zarco

18,387 posts

215 months

Thursday 23rd November 2023
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Collectingbrass said:
Zarco said:
They had a fire on the same development (Station Hill) back in July. Wasn't as serious but bad enough.

I don't know if it's the exact same building (it's a big development with possibly more than one developer/main contractor working on it), but I wouldn’t be surprised if it is.

The demolition company also suffered a scaffold collapse into the road while they were preparing the site. Not much luck it seems!
Will the HSE arrive tonight or tomorrow morning?
It won't be long I suspect.

Zarco

18,387 posts

215 months

Thursday 23rd November 2023
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Type R Tom said:
I wonder if he had the basket on his crane from the start or got someone on the ground to change it. Either way, quick thinking!
They are often on sites to allow crane drivers to be rescued if they take ill (on sites with more than one crane obviously!). They can be used for inspection too, but I expect this time it went on the hook after the fire started.


PurpleTurtle

7,475 posts

150 months

Thursday 23rd November 2023
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My friend works in a building opposite, he also filmed it and has a more lengthy video than the one on the BBC website.

It's crazy to watch, everyone in his office in the background is desperately pleading for him to make it, then there is a huge cheer as he gets in the basket.

Ice cool really, from the worker and the crane driver, who was apparently unsighted and guided by his banksman.

There's a great pub called The Greyfriar just down the road - if this was me on that roof I would be spending the rest of my day in it!

Rusty Old-Banger

4,752 posts

219 months

Thursday 23rd November 2023
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Well done to the cranesman/banksman. Looks like a hell of a fire.

No ideas for a name

2,384 posts

92 months

Thursday 23rd November 2023
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Zarco said:
Type R Tom said:
I wonder if he had the basket on his crane from the start or got someone on the ground to change it. Either way, quick thinking!
They are often on sites to allow crane drivers to be rescued if they take ill (on sites with more than one crane obviously!). They can be used for inspection too, but I expect this time it went on the hook after the fire started.
BBC quotes the crane driver;

Crane operator Glen Edwards said it had been a "very close call" due to swirling winds.

I looked out my left-hand window and saw a guy standing on the corner of the building, said the 65-year-old, from Egham, Surrey.
I'd only just seen him and someone said 'can you get the cage on', so that was it, I got the cage on and got it over to him the best I could.
I tried to put the cage down between him and the flames, but I was hampered by the wind swirling around there.
But I got the cage down and I managed to get him in there.

CloudStuff

3,809 posts

110 months

Thursday 23rd November 2023
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Well done to the crane driver and the others for their quick thinking.

However, whilst I'm not a civil engineering / construction expert, it does seem that the sheer volumne of HSE failings at this site are a f^&ing p!sstake.

Two fires + scaffold collapse?

That can't be acceptable!

Edited by CloudStuff on Friday 24th November 08:30

bitchstewie

54,511 posts

216 months

Thursday 23rd November 2023
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Got a feeling Mr Edwards isn't going to have to buy a drink for a while.

CloudStuff

3,809 posts

110 months

Thursday 23rd November 2023
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bhstewie said:
Got a feeling Mr Edwards isn't going to have to buy a drink for a while.
They should take him to the lappy around the corner to get clapping some cheeks.

Zarco

18,387 posts

215 months

Thursday 23rd November 2023
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CloudStuff said:
Well done to the crane driver and the others for their quick thinking.

However, whilst I'm not a civil engineering / construction exit, it does seem that the amount of HSE failing at this site are a f^&ing p!sstake.

Two fires + scaffold collapse?

That can't be acceptable!
Scaffold collapse the demo contractor was Principal Contactor, so that was on their watch so to speak. That was really dangerous, falling into the road.

The two fires are since the new build started. Different PC, but still ridiculous.

miniman

26,022 posts

268 months

Thursday 23rd November 2023
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Just me watching that video shouting “just get in the fking cage!”?

Petrus1983

9,453 posts

168 months

Thursday 23rd November 2023
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News is usually depressing. This story is awesome. Crane driver - get a free pint. Guy on roof, get crane driver another pint, and have one for yourself.

Southerner

1,706 posts

58 months

Thursday 23rd November 2023
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miniman said:
Just me watching that video shouting “just get in the fking cage!”?
Well, you can’t rush these things!

Oh, actually….yikesflamesflames

heisthegaffer

3,604 posts

204 months

Thursday 23rd November 2023
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I wonder what the building was made of for the fire to be so bad? Or perhaps prior to fire retardant materials being installed.

£750m building too. Big claim coming in.