Fire services

The London Fire Brigade Museum, which is in the section of the building to the right, is still open. Its website is at www.london-fire.gov.uk/OurMuseum.asp It can be visited by appointment only.

Most of the fire visible on Saturday morning was in the long, open-fronted shed behind the mound. Flames can just be made out to the left and right of the mound. The rounded building to the left is the Newhaven incinerator. In between lie hundreds of bales of refuse. Another observer of the scene said that there have been three previous fires, one at this site and two downstream nearer the Swing Bridge, in recent years.

Photos taken on the way home from a family gathering in East London. I thought that this was more dynamic than several that were somewhat clearer pictures of the fire engine, but less dramatic.

A specialist foam unit. Other appliances carry foam alongside their other fire fighting systems, but this is a high volume appliance used for large vehicle or industrial fires. The frames on the left are racking parts for the Marine Unit's equipment store. The Fire Service has only just moved here from its former station down by the harbour.

Named Saxon House as it was built on the site of a Saxon settlement, not because it houses Saxon branded fire appliances.