#444 Debrief: Old Albert Mill, Whitworth, Lancashire, May 15th 2009

On this episode of we take a slow, deliberate look at the Old Albert Mill incident in Whitworth, Lancashire, from 15 May 2009. This is a structured incident debrief built directly from the original accident investigation report, with large sections read verbatim to preserve timings, context, and operational reality. The focus is not on blame or judgement, but on understanding how breathing apparatus operations, withdrawal under pressure, low visibility movement, and training culture intersected during a real incident that resulted in a firefighter injury.

This episode is designed as a learning tool. Alongside the audio debrief, an incident debrief training document has been created for crews to use on station. 

It follows a clear structure, sets out critical information from the incident, and poses decision points and discussion prompts to help firefighters and officers reflect on what they would do if faced with a similar incident tonight. 

You can find the downloadable debrief document via the link below and use it to support watch-based discussions, training sessions, and professional development.

LINK FOR TRAINING DOCUMENT

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• JAFCO
• IDEX
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