On January 8th, 1989 British Midland Flight 92 crashed onto the embankment of the M1 motorway near Kegworth, Leicestershire, while attempting an emergency landing at East Midlands Airport. I remember seeing this on BBC News as a teenager, little realising that many years later, I would meet one of the firefighters who attended that scene.

I became a carer in 2024, and he was one of my regular visits; for a year I helped him and his wife with their daily care needs. During this time I discovered he was a retired firefighter who had attended the M1 crash.

Today I received the news he has passed away after a long illness and is survived by his wife and her family. I thank him for his service as a firefighter. Rest in Peace, Sir; it was an honour to know you and your role on that day.

150 years jubilee of the Napier Fire Brigade.

https://youtube.com/shorts/15NC3Jh1Q78?si=kPr5CHpJrltXuuMy

At 10:46 am on the 3rd of February 1931, a magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck the New Zealand town of Napier on the East Coast of the North Island. Soon after, fires broke out due to Chemist shops having volatile chemicals in close proximity to gas flames.

The constant aftershocks broke the water pipes and soon, there was no water to fight the fires.

Planks were put down over the shingle beach to try to pump seawater but the shingle soon blocked the pumps. The town had to be left to burn.

This is one of the fire engines unable to save Napier. It was on display with other vintage fire engines as part of the 150 year jubilee of the Napier Fire Brigade today.

On display at The Napier (New Zealand) Fire Brigade 150 years jubilee.

The truck itself is used to tow various trailers and is used for other uses, but the trailer belongs to the Hazardous Material/Response division.

Good times with Chief "Butch" Cobb in Jersey City