How many Firefighters does it take to free a duck?!

Now here’s a story.  My friend Anine was out on Tooting Bec Common this Sunday, 31 January 2010, with her children, playing near the pond.  Her attention was drawn to the plight of a duck in extreme distress, hanging from a tree by its wing.  Others began to notice too and a call was put in to the Wildlife Trust.  

Fifteen minutes later one of their members arrived assessed the situation and decided to call in the Fire Service.  Now here’s the good bit.  Not one, not two, not three, not even four, but FIVE fire engines turned up, blue lights flashing and no less than 20 Firefighters emerged all ready and willing to come to the aid of the poor distressed duck. Three of them, in dry suits, got into a dinghy and within a space of seconds had released the duck from the tree, popped it into a cage and handed it over to the lady from the Wildlife Trust to take to the vet.  Now you might say that 5 Fire Engines and 20 Firefighters is a big excessive.  But  my friend Anine said “the lady from the Wildlife Trust told us not to laugh.  Health and Safety rules dictate that for any incident that involves water, 5 Fire Engines are always required to attend.”  Do you think the Duck knew that before he got himself stuck?!

I'm trying now to imagine a fire-fighting incident that doesn't involve water. "Sorry love, there's only four of us here as yet so we can't put it out"...