Debris Gallery

LCC-LFB fatal warehouse fire, Langley Street WC2

Three firemen died fighting this blaze in a Covent Garden warehouse in Langley Street. The first crews to arrive, from Clerkenwell fire station, found the warehouse well alight. The building was heavily smoke-logged. As the crews entered the building the roof collapsed with fatal consequences. Station Officer Hawkins and fireman Batt-Rawden were both killed by the fall of debris. Fireman Gadd died later as a result of his injuries. Shown here are crews continuing to extinguish the fire within the shell of the collapsed warehouse

© London Fire Brigade / Mary Evans Picture Library

Great Fire of Newcastle and Gateshead

A view over Newcastle (on the far side of the River Tyne) and Gateshead (in the foreground) during the great fire which killed more than 50 people and destroyed many buildings. The fire started on 6 October in a worsted factory on the Gateshead side. Sulphur and other combustible materials in a nearby warehouse were ignited by the heat. The resulting huge explosion projected burning debris across Newcastle and thus the fire spread rapidly. Date: October 1854

© Illustrated London News Ltd/Mary Evans

Scene inside London Underground tunnel after a crash

Scene inside a London Underground tunnel following an incident on 28 February 1975. A train had failed to stop at Moorgate station and had crashed into the wall at the end of the tunnel, killing 43 people. This photograph was taken on 3 March, when bodies were still being recovered. The last body to be removed was that of the driver, on 5 March. Date: 1975

© London Fire Brigade / Mary Evans Picture Library