Local crew remembered on tenth anniversary of terrorist attacks

An experienced female fire officer based in London has recounted events to mark the 10th anniversary of the July 7 bombings in London, including how a crew from Ruislip travelled furthest to help in the aftermath. Trish Colman, 53, is now assistant operations manager on No1 Watch Control, based at London Fire Brigade’s 999 Control Centre, Merton. On July 7, 2005 Colman was then working in the same role at the London Fire Brigade Control Room in Greenwich. Trish explained how it was the most difficult task she has ever faced and she explained how crews came from far and wide to help in the operation. She said: “We had crews come from as far as Ruislip to help out. I couldn’t imagine what the crews were going through.” Trish added that he first call came in an hour after my shift started, around 9am, then they came in very quick succession. She realised it was a terrorist attack when she got the first bit of information from the police. Trish explained that there were about 15 control officers, each at a desk with three screens, and a bank of screens showing the incident list, a map of Greater London with the locations of fire engines, ‘heli-telly’, and Sky News. Having worked for the fire brigade for 38 years dealing with such terrorist groups as the IRA, Trish also commented that this was the biggest event she had to deal with. 52 people were killed on that fateful day when four Islamist men separately detonated three bombs in quick succession aboard London Underground trains across the city and, later, a fourth on a double-decker bus in Tavistock Square. More than 700 people were injured in the attacks and it was the United Kingdom’s worst terrorist incident since the 1988 Lockerbie bombing as well as the country’s first ever suicide attack.