Fire crews from Hendon, Kentish Town and West Hampstead stations were joined by Academy staff in the exercise, which was designed to practise the response to an incident on the second floor of York Gate, a Grade II listed building which houses the Academy's Museum.
As well as testing the response to a fire, it was an opportunity for firefighters and the Academy’s Collections team to work together, following staff instructions, for the safe and efficient removal and preservation of the site’s historic artefacts and instruments in the event of a 999 emergency.
London
Fire Brigade’s Heritage Co-ordinator, Sub Officer Mark Huntington said: 'As London’s rescue
service our priority is always to preserve life, then the building and its
contents. If you have pre-prepared plans and know your building, you’ll
protect lives, utilise valuable time and save more of your building and its
contents. These plans are
vital as they detail not only actions that should be implemented by site staff,
but also clearly identify priority items which need to be removed from the
building or left protected, in situ, which the Brigade can assist with.'
The Academy's Dean of Students Elizabeth Kenny said: ‘Our Collections Team, led by Head of Collections Susana Caldeira, worked closely with the London Fire Brigade on this practical exercise, testing and sense-checking our emergency salvage procedures. We found the collaboration to be fruitful, from first contact through to preparing and delivering the exercise across our heritage site.
The Academy is thankful to the Heritage Department and to Euston Command of the London Fire Brigade for this excellent opportunity to train our Collections team's emergency response. Records and data highlight the importance of salvage plans being kept up to date and in place for an emergency for all heritage properties across the capital.