"The indications were that it was a significant fire so we initially sent three fire engines... when crews arrived they were confronted by a developingfire in the 50m by 25m building, " he said.
The classic example of this phenomenon comes from a European study that looked at risk factors for developing PTSD in people trapped in a terrible nightclub fire in which many people died.
From its humble beginnings (for a while, the fire-fighting force consisted largely of drunks and vagrants) the service gradually became more professional, developing new techniques and introducing smokejumpers (special teams that parachute into hot spots).