Six members of the London Fire Brigade have been taken to hospital following a serious collision between two of the service's own fire engines in central London.
Emergency Response to Emergency Vehicles
The incident occurred at approximately 10:14pm on Saturday, 3 January 2026, at the junction of Farringdon Road and Clerkenwell Road in Clerkenwell. According to Assistant Commissioner Pat Goulbourne, both appliances—a fire engine from Lambeth and a turntable ladder from Soho—were responding to an incident in Islington at the time of the crash.
The London Ambulance Service was called at 10:09pm and dispatched a significant number of resources. These included ambulance crews, advanced paramedics, an incident response officer, and specialists from the Hazardous Area Response Team (HART). The six crew members involved were treated at the scene before being transported to hospital for further checks and treatment.
Severe Damage and Ongoing Investigation
The force of the impact left both fire engines severely damaged, necessitating their removal from the scene. The collision also resulted in damage to traffic lights and street furniture. Police cordoned off the junction in all directions to allow emergency teams to work and to begin their investigation.
In an official statement, Assistant Commissioner Goulbourne confirmed: "The circumstances surrounding the collision are under investigation by the Brigade and the Metropolitan Police Service." The initial incident in Islington to which the engines were responding has been resolved.
Range of Injuries Sustained
The firefighters sustained a variety of injuries. Reports from the scene indicate these ranged from broken bones to chest and head injuries. All affected crew members are currently receiving medical care. The London Fire Brigade has not yet released further details on their conditions.
The Metropolitan Police Service is leading the investigation into the precise cause of the collision, which remains unclear. The event has highlighted the inherent risks faced by emergency service personnel even when travelling to an incident.
