Quick thinking Bressingham Steam and Gardens staff use fire engine being used for exhibition to put out blaze

A giant blaze that broke out at Bressingham Steam and Gardens was extinguished by staff – using a fire engine that had been left there as part of an exhibition.

Staff sprang into action after a tree caught fire at the museum at around 4pm on Thursday, August 11.

The blaze then caught a low-hanging power cable, causing a giant explosion and leaving a row of 40-feet fir trees up in flames.

After duty manager Tadzik Kaznowski noticed the blaze, he and his co-workers hopped aboard a Norfolk Fire Service truck, which had been conveniently left behind by Norfolk Fire Museum the week prior as part of a fundraising event.

“It spread onto the field so, when we saw it, we ran on and started to tackle it,” said Mr Kaznowski.

“We had Norfolk Fire Museum around the week before and we had one of their fire engines, so we pulled out hoses on the side and used that to pump water on to the field.”

Actual fire officers soon arrived – from East Harling, Thetford, Harleston, Attleborough, Hethersett, Long Stratton and Diss – and the blaze was put out by 7.45pm.

Mr Kaznowski said the museum now plans to keep the truck on site permanently, in case it is ever required again.

“Moving forward, we might leave it here, just to be on standby,” he said. “Last week showed it was very useful for it to be there.”

The steam museum was closed the following day, before reopening the following Saturday.

As a safety precaution, the train line at the museum will only be operating diesel trains on the line over the coming days.