Fire Engine Fiasco

When fire broke out in their home in 1973, the home-owners phoned the local fire department for help only to find out that it was taking part in a simulation exercise and demonstration to put out an imaginary fire in the local village green but it would be sent out as soon as the message could be relayed to them.

With fire spreading around them, the couple next phoned a fire department in a neighbouring town which promised to send out an engine immediately.

And it did!

However, as the engine was careening down a hill, siren blaring and lights flashing, the cab suddenly burst into flames. The driver pulled to a halt on the side of the road and the firemen jumped out to safety. Despite a tankful of water aboard, the firemen were helpless to do anything... The pump was operated from the cab which was now full of smoke and flames.

By this time, the original fire department had concluded its exercises and was returning to the station when they passed the firey truck. They pulled to a stop near the burning engine, but, having just done some serious lawn watering back in the village green, there was little water left in their own truck. They did what they could, though, having in the end to resort to stop passers-by and ask if they had any fire extinguishers in their cars.

Oh... The fire that was burning down the house? It was put out by energetic neighbours tossing buckets of water on it.