Seconds From Disaster - S03E04 - London's Subway Inferno

[IndraEMC]

WHY they didn't extinguish the fire when it's just a small blaze, of course there is a hydrant or flre extinguishers around the station, instead they're waiting-waiting-and waiting until ENTIRE fire department comes into the site, but that's definitely too late.

[Sudrabins251196]

what can I say.... smoking kills

[Cynbad63]

@Sudrabins251196

in this case I would say that a particular smoker killed 31 people with one match. Just like a gun doesn't kill, the person pulling the trigger does.

[HolyTapeStudios]

anyone notice that the narrators voice changes in this episode?

[TheVenncat]

The narrator should have said "A moron lights a cigarette with a match then discards the match onto the escalator" not a passenger. The lives lost because of someone couldn't wait for a smoke. I hope the person who did it realizes and feels like absolute shit.

[4BlocksE2ndOnRight]

@TheVenncat More than likely, there were numerous others who discarded burning materials during their commute on the escalator that day and on days prior. If several people feel badly, all the better. However, the culprit probably feels nothing because they are unaware that they are the guilty party. As I said, if more than one feel a tinge of regret, all the better.

[angrybirdsforever]

Fucking smoker needs to fucking burn in hell and die.

[angrybirdsforever]

Scary!!!!

[scorchx3000]

I remember this, I was 5 at the time. I remember being annoyed that the cartoons had been canceled and my mom telling me about the fire. Scared the crap out of me, I remember the school field trip two months later, a kid was afraid to go on the metro, incase their was a fire like this.

[SourGeckos]

@arrdly that goes for you too

[Louisehascancer]

Admittedly, I may not be the first to consider this. A fire extinquisher in the hands of the ticket handlers or the police officers might have had some effect. Contacting the fire brigand is an absolute, but no one in a position of authority approaching a yet small fire is tragic. As the commentater mentions the findings of the scientists, the channeling of the heat would certainly become apparent more quickly and altered the aftermath.

[theibecks]

@Louisehascancer This documentary doesn't mention everything the official report does. At around 19:38 the station inspector did get a fire extinguisher but couldn't get close enough to the fire to be able to use it.

[Louisehascancer]

@theibecks Thanks for the clarification.

[PamK36]

Ugh, why did they never clean under there?

[Whatupwidat]

It's a documentary about a fire that killed 31 people, and commenters are arguing about dialectic differences!?

FUCK I hate Youtube sometimes....

[Cynbad63]

@Whatupwidat

Actually, I love youtube and the documentaries shown here. What I do hate is the idiots that want to pick a fight over the smallest thing that has nothing to do with the video. Most of the viewers have not right even owning a computer and should have a license to operate one.

[rrefreak11]

18:38 to 20:00 is so sad not 28

[rrefreak11]

18:28 to 20:00 is so sad

[leothedirilo]

so u gonna talk?

[leothedirilo]

yay i win

[36blackout]

do you notice he said axford not oxford

[Lengas32]

@777Johney That's how TUBE is pronounced.

[no6leaf6clover6]

@Lengas32 No it isn't. Tube = 'tyoob'

[leothedirilo]

@no6leaf6clover6 ur wrong it IS tube if ur british its still tube not toob

[leothedirilo]

@no6leaf6clover6 also, in american grammar, the OO is U

example tube

[arrdly]

The narrator is a knob. We don't call it the 'TOOB' we call it the Underground!!

[leothedirilo]

@arrdly you are the knob stupeed american

[arrdly]

@leothedirilo

Oh dear, YouTOOB is full of idiots. I'm English, from the East End, that's in London in case you was wondering?

[leothedirilo]

@arrdly well im american so u try to insult me cuz im american? we may be american, but i live in their inest city. San Diego. Hope u know what that translates to.

[arrdly]

@leothedirilo

You have a chip on your shoulder, or is that a crisp?

The Amercan nation has single handedly taken the Queens English and corrupted it beyond recognition. How did such simple words such as Tyre, Colour, Aluminium get mispelt? The meanings of words were lost. Trunk is the body or a large case not the boot of a car. Hood is a head covering, not the Bonnet of a car ... you see the relationship? Either can be a head covering but only one is used in English automotive speak I despair

[leothedirilo]

@arrdly dude just stop this crap america broke up from the empire because the king gave us so many taxes because we sold stuff it dosnt matter if we misspell stuff its just our slang we just think its not spelled right. damn the british is such a pain

[bg11215]

@arrdly It's no longer the Queen's English outside of Britain. Language spreads and changes, get over it.

[scorchx3000]

@arrdly

God damn it, you're a fucking arsehole., Why the hell do Londoners always insist on being dicks?

I'm from the north myself, we don't have muppets going on about pronounciation. Hate to rain on your parade, the English language probablys has millions of dialect, you gonna insult me for calling a fruit machine a bandit, or using the term Why aye? If so, you're a sad act.

[bg11215]

@leothedirilo No matter where you come from or where you live, please learn how to spell correctly.

[leothedirilo]

@bg11215 i know how to spell u damn brit!!! I speak full american!!!

[SourGeckos]

@leothedirilo and @bg11214 SHUT THE FUCK UP! NOBODY CARES. TAKE YOUR ARGUMENTS ELSEWHERE! FFS!

[leothedirilo]

@SourGeckos k then. we'll no longer argue about our dialects and/or our nationality.

so, lets make a truce.

sorry this got off hand.

oh yes, and im 12 years old.

[SourGeckos]

@leothedirilo Thankyou.

[xEimi907]

i seriously wonder why those 2 police man just like stood there and didn't try to put out that fire just because it was so small -___-

[PDExplorer193]

sooo if this is the 80s why do those computers look so recent?

[pXqclan]

@PDExplorer193 Because its a reanactment

[PDExplorer193]

@pXqclan and reenactments* are supposed to be as realistic as possible correct?

[pXqclan]

@PDExplorer193 Yeah sorry, maybe its because there on a tight budget or something because they have to do this for lots of other disasters too.

[xPinkStrifex]

WHY not put the fire out right away? I don't care if it's the size of a small flame or 5ft high! WHY wait 15min or so to begin to put it out?

[sirscrotum]

The trench effect had not been discovered yet, so these well seasoned fire-fighters had no idea that such an inferno could happen so shortly. I would not question the fire fighters inability to contain the fire, for not understanding a scientific principle that had not even been discovered up to that point in time, like these youtubers have.

[KissofDawn2012]

Didn't they have a fire extinguisher to put it out when the fire was still really small? It looked very containable in the beginning and all they did was stare. Why wait for the Fire Department?

[SupremeParkitects]

@KissofDawn2012

look up the 'whitesnake' fire video, you have very little time to extinguish fires. 2 n half mins is about the 'magic time' you have to escape. after that its gonna be a raging fire.

[bozerabc123]

Theory: a hypothesis that is supported over and over again

[MrBullfrog9876]

Wooden esculators? 

[brssgirl]

I could make this effect as far back as 1975. It is best called the White Effect.

the inevstigators with all their fancy computer simulationsa nd model escalator only saw the smaller picture.

The White Effect includes the far wider situation of a tube fire.

It coudl happen again if London Transport doesn't take steps to prevnt it.

[abusedbynycpolice]

Trench theory--why not a simple explaination that fire is always seeking oxygen. The tunneling effect of air rushing out the 'tube" accelerated the fire--and fueled the explosion.

[onagaganondorf]

SMOKERS fucks other lives again.......

[onepieceluffy97]

Haha... Interesting comments...

Btw, can someone enlighten me on how the simulation knows of the "trench" effect but the researchers/investigators had no idea about the phenomenon? I mean in order to create a simulation, someone has to understand its physical characteristics and stuffs like that right? Or was the simulation done after the investigators determined the cause and how it happened (although I think this is quite unlikely based on their conversations...)

[onagaganondorf]

@onepieceluffy97 the simulator just adds the physics of the place ,fire, smoke and incline of terain al togheter gives the result, is like getting ibto a new island folowing ocean rules of navigation without knowing a land was in youre way

[tomashrdy]

They discovered the King's Cross phenomenon: heat up the wooden steps and suddenly caught fire!

[PSshadow92]

I find it interesting that the people in charge are like, "Oh, it's just a *freaking fire*. That's no big deal." Seriously? I don't care if it happens a lot, put that shit out!

[shibyx]

who would have thought letting wooden escalators burn for 15 minutes with no fire extinguishers could end badly. British people are silly

[octokyle]

@shibyx Come on, look we know we are idiots, but if you are american (most likely) you guys have world records in most cars being hit on rail crossings, you dont hear us calling you idiots.

[FLABEX224]

@shibyx you call us silly america has the record for the most cars hit by trains

[garfield960]

the guy in blue than *de de da de* the new

[davvvvo]

next time put in sprinclers

[makowals]

Typical British. "I'm only the Ticket Collector. That's not my job. You need the fire brigade." Then the fire department comes--and instead of acting, need to "fully understand" the situation. Let's stand around, analyze it, toss theories around, let's hold interviews to see who should be the lead fire putter-outer, etc. Just put the dumb thing out, worry about logistics, planning, status, etc., later.

[equarg]

One thing that was hammered in our head in the forest service...

FIRE TRAVELS FASTEST UPHILL!

There are rare exceptions to this, but the fact the fire started at the bottom of and escalator, means the fire had only one way to go....up.

Not to mention all the fuel the escalator provided (wood and built up debris)

Fire only looked small, it was raging out of sight under the escalator floor.

This is not a forest fire..but some of the same basic principles apply.

May all those who perished....RIP

[Lassannn]

Burn, motherfuckers. This shit is so fucking delicious.

[hotcatrup]

@Lassannn ..y did u comment like that?

[cogidubnus1953]

I wish the narrator wouldn't keep calling it the "toob" !

[dilwich123]

I wonder if the girl with the Cigarette remembers throwing it when she saw the news that day?

[757american767]

CHange the tile. its not London subway its Kings cross inferno. silly americans

[jdhf983y4uhu]

they got the time wrong @03:02 it should say 19:25 not 07:25

[xtremetop100videosXD]

What the hell is the fire brigade at the ticketing office? Idiots?

[MrAaron542]

When i am in the station, i'd get a fire extinguisher .

[757american767]

@MrAaron542 Fires too big

[rossy2by5]

Lets clear up some things for everyone complaining

1. fire was common on the old system, note 400 fires over 3 decades at 5:10

2. the fire was small for the whole time it was observed, growing very little, so there didnt seem to be any cause for concern of immediate danger.

3. there was no knowledge of how the fire would act on the escalator, even if it was made of wood it spread so slowly that no-one could have ever expected the whole length to suddenly burst into flames the way it did

[IchigoKurosaki2121]

Fucking Smokers, once again they are to blame for misery....

[toby070]

As the video progressed before the disaster, I was thinking to myself: JUST EXTINGUISH THE FLIPPING FIRE BEFORE IT GETS HIGHER STUPID. (8:01).

[toby070]

Ironically, I visited the London Transport museum and now learnt of this spisode.

Woah!

[adildul]

The fire?

[Albanwinter]

Who here can look at that angled wooden escalator in a tubular shaped area with an oxygen source at the top and figure out what happened without a computer or full scale re-enactment?

[mubd1234]

Interesting how the investigation was in the 1980's-early 90's, but the 'computer modellers' are using Windows XP, LCD monitors, multimedia keyboards and optical mice with scroll wheels. Also, I seriously doubt a computer from the 80's would be able to render the model in real time.

[boeing521]

@mubd1234 Maybe that's because the episode was made very recently and they had to make it LOOK old. Those old OS's don't exist anymore. Use your head, man.

[Megalego1234]

It is so interesting how they find out the problem

[Visinicus]

No one cleaned it since WW2. Morons.

[Visinicus]

In Detroit the Fire Fighters climb onto roofs,Axe through the roof,and water the house. Otherwise it would spread and burn the whole block...if not city. Some fall in. The arsonists are charged Federally. The D~Towners put this bunch to shame.

[Zalis116]

This is why I don't have any sympathy for smokers whenever some new ban passes. If they're so careless about public infrastructure and people around them, why should non-smokers care about their inconvenience? Let them set their own homes on fire.

[austinlinjiajing]

Why didn't the firefighters just put out the fire straightaway? Could've prevented the disaster.

[itgeek920]

The station had been there for a really long time till the King's Cross Fire... Yet the designers and engineers had failed to realize the massive design flaw that would cost lives.

[borichica33mar]

anyone could have SPIT on the tiny fire and put it out....instead they let it turn into an inferno!

[murakwan29]

I would say that this disaster is simply waiting to happen, why didn't the firefighters put off the blaze at the first place?

[SodomGomorrahWaDC]

anyone agree that they go a little heavy on the low FPS effect at times on this show?

[SodomGomorrahWaDC]

FUCK MY TITS.

[Im1man]

Lazy firefighters, even a veteran 23 of years of service should know that any fire can get dangerous if not put out. He should've acted and put it out, not gossip and chat!

What incompetence.

[dougy12]

@Im1man they were not aware of the trench effect at that time and so could not have predicted the sudden flashover in such a short space of time.

[neutrino182]

@Im1man I appreciate that you're a troll, an idiot and a to**ser combined and as such you don't deserve a response but for what it's worth...... It is hindsight that informs your tawdry observation. The 'incompetence' that you speak of is applicable to anyone who has ever found themselves in an unprecedented situation. Not that I expect you to comprehend this, you're probably too busy setting fires and wetting the bed (I assume that's why you detest fire-fighters so much?)

[neutrino182]

@Im1man I appreciate that you're a troll, an idiot and a to**ser combined and as such you don't deserve a response but for what it's worth...... It is hindsight that informs your tawdry observation. The 'incompetence' that you speak of is applicable to anyone who has ever found themselves in an unprecedented situation. Not that I expect you to comprehend this, you're probably too busy setting fires and wetting the bed (I assume that's why you detest fire-fighters so much?)

[Im1man]

@neutrino182 No i'm not a troll.

My point is that Firemen have a simple job to do...they aren't supposed to ignore even the smallest fire, their job is to extinguish it!! Not laugh at how puny the flame is.

[ENDOFANAGEMUSIC]

I was born 1st of november 1987 :D

[Baravia]

@ENDOFANAGEMUSIC my younger brother was born the day this happened - at 7:10am so about 12 hours before it

[ENDOFANAGEMUSIC]

@Baravia Coolio thats rocks :D

[MrRedshotz]

This could have all been prevented if the passenger that lit the match blew out the flame. It's a great shame.

[itsG0DDESS]

This whole situations seems like it couldve been either prevented or tamed early on..They mentioned fires weren't a big deal...there had been over 400...when has a fire ever not been a big deal? wooden escalators... thousands of commuters in a small area ...common random fires ..underground?...& you don't have hoses or extinguishers underground ? they never said anyone went underneath the escalator to investigate the fires source from the beginning... this situation just doesnt sound logical

[loner1878]

King's Cross? Quick! Run through platform 9 and 3/4!

[Truthseeker4449]

If It is difficult to start a fire under the escalators, wouldn't it be tricky to put out the fire with a fire extinguisher?

[saa0803]

everything is kept the way it is and nothing is ever replaced or done until a disaster happens...

[ABand98]

whydid they send a hydraulic ladder to a fire underground?

[denial082]

Escalator made of wood?!

[reasland]

@denial082 yeah, guess its the 80's. It was probably wood for years and cheap / easy to change out when worn.

[1f5sda]

I am not sure why escalators were made of wood. That's a good question. Maybe it was cheaper to use. However, that was a good question you asked. ;) However I am not sure why, if I ever go to England I MAY ask a London firefighter about that.

[loner1878]

@1f5sda

Wooden escalators probably have something to do with being the oldest subway system in the world.

[1f5sda]

@loner1878 I think that you are RIGHT about that.

[1f5sda]

RIP Colin Townsley

[MrValentine80]

Now I don't feel sorry for fire chief's death.

[1f5sda]

@MrValentine80 Why?

[BarGerMarMeyer]

Ever heard of a fire extinguisher?



[1867Phoenix]

This  reenactment is supposed to be set in 1987, but you can see a movie poster for

"Ice Age" at 2:25, behind Daemonn Brody's head.

[coopjust2]

@1867Phoenix

Nothing's perfect. Chances are also slim that they used an LCD display when they did the computer modeling in 1987, it would have been absurdly expensive. I've seen a lot of people criticize the haircuts of the actors being from the wrong decade (current vs. 80s, etc.).

[Tehkenny1]

I kinda feel sorry for the poor person knowing she/he dropped her/hes smoke there a few min before the fire broke out

[Clarrisani]

Even more evidence that smoking kills.

[hdyudu]

at first i guest the cause of the fire was overheating bearings next to that cocktail of lubing grease and garbage that still i not ruleing out as a cause besides a burning match

[turricaned]

To all those asking why they didn't put it out immediately - what do you think happens when you pump high-pressure water into a tube station full of people? You have to get the people out first, *then* fight the fire. As the programme says, this was a completely new phenomenon - even the scientists had trouble believing it.

[1f5sda]

@turricaned Well said! Scientific research is COMPLEX, especially for something like this.

[clagghead]

The firefightes shoud be sewed why not put it out in the first place?

[lolitstinks1]

What I can't understand is why the firefighters didn't put out the fire straight away. Maybe it was like "it's only a tiny fire we should be able to stand around for a chat first". If theyd put it out right away then this wouldnt have happened. Plus the wooden escalators should have been replaced long ago.

[phenomanam]

@lolitstinks1 how about thinkin about certain aspects like distance from road to the fire, amount of hose needed, any further appliances needed. the boss needs to think a lot of things b4 putting water on it, how about, how much water will they need. it's not an easy a job as u think so don't criticise straight away. and they still went about their job even though their boss was killed, give them credit

[boeing521]

@lolitstinks1 Who makes wooden escalators anyway? 

[Upgrader01]

@boeing521 Dude, it happened 24 years ago. You can't expect really high tech.

[boeing521]

@Upgrader01 If they can build a working escalator in 1939 (the beginning of WWII), I think usually at least one person would add metal to it or MAYBE CLEAN IT in 48 years following their construction. I guess in this case, they didn't. And they said "replace it with metal within 9 months"....So it obviously was available. I don't even see how the steps themselves lasted so long...Wouldn't they have rotted?

[757american767]

@lolitstinks1 It was at flashover before they came!!!! they didnt just sit there and watch it??? Stupid armchair wanna be fire fighter. THEY DIDNT HAVE A CHANCE TO PUT IT OUT, IT WAS SOOO BIG. GET YOU FACTS RIGHT BEFORE YOU COME ON HERE GIVING YOUR STUPID OPINION. I hate people that aways say how they would of done it.

[lolitstinks1]

@757american767 First of all faggot, do you even know what 'flashover means? The fire was not at flashover when the firefighters arrived, it was still contained under the escalator. Go and learn what a flashover is before you flame others. Oh wait, 'american'? That would explain your retardness then..

[lolitstinks1]

People that can't use correct grammar and type in caps halfway through are hallmarks of a retard in the making.

[pe6obutilkata]

@lolitstinks1 yeah absolute idiots

[KT926]

OMG don't they have fire extinguishers in the station? That's the first thing I'd do if I saw the fire instead of just letting it burn!!

[vladispassov]

@KT926

My thoughts exactly! Plus the firefighters' uniforms seem to have been taken from a Victorian novel.

[turricaned]

@vladispassov That's what they looked like in the '80s! And again, no-one knew the fire was going to burn out of control, but it was too big for an extinguisher, and they had to get everyone out before turning the hoses on it.

[basherofnoggins]

@vladispassov ...so the victorians had high-visibility, flame-retardant clothing plus plastic helmets and oxygen kits, did they? My my, I had no idea!

In all seriousness, though, it's only very recently that the emergency services' uniforms were 'modernised' here in the UK in terms of image - all of their gear has always been as safe as possible, it's just the image that has changed.

[vladispassov]

@basherofnoggins Man, don't take the word "victorians" literally lol. They look funny and sooooo 19-th sentury, indeed. All they are missing is the tin buttons. I really hope what you say is true and these brave men have always been provided with the state-of-the-art tools but I just couldn't help making the link between the Victorian soldiers and the firemen from the video.

[garden2010city]

@KT926 Maybe it could help back then but not now.Now so called "health and safety" reaches level of madness in the UK. My friend was trained as fire marshall in certain uk company and ceased small fire by fire extinguisher on hiw own intitiative and saved company from huge losses.He was sucked for breaching "health and safety" rules- during training he was told to check warehouse only and flee so by-the book assholes sucked him. All of that because "no win no fee" solicitors chasing ambulances

[757american767]

@KT926 they didnt have a chance. It was way to big to tackle with fire extinguishers. A whole station is on fire. One person with a fire extinguisher isnt going to be able to put it out are they??? GET IT IN YOUR HEAD THAT THE FIRE CAME TOO QUICKLY AND WAS TOO BIG TO FIGHT WITH EXTINGUSIHERS.

[KT926]

@757american767

They could have if they used it before it got any worse!

They were just standing on the stairs watching it burn before it travelled up to the top

[mattstorm360]

@KT926 Fire extinguishers? WHO CARES!?! there never been a fire there. intill now.

[1f5sda]

Thanks for uploading!