Fawley's Front Line

Home to the UKs largest refinery, Fawley is among the most at-risk parts of the country for petrochemical fires. Its fire service is vital to the areas infrastructure and its firefighters must always be prepared. For the first time, the story of this fire station and of the Watersides private and military fire brigades is told. From establishment in the early twentieth century, through the development of the fire engine and firefighting techniques, to combating modern-day terrorist threats, Fawleys firefighters have witnessed it all. This book looks at how the station and its crew, now reduced from full- to part-time staffing, have evolved in the face of new dangers and challenges.