THIS fascinating timetable of events shows how quickly the fire service responded to the Albert Hall blaze.

The official -- and confidential -- printout of the calls made on the night and the following two days, between fire control and the individual stations, was revealed to the BEN by Sub Officer Ken Rathbone, from Bolton Fire Station.

Although Sub Officer Rathbone was not on the watch which dealt with the fire, he has always held a keen interest in the blaze.

The fire had very quickly gone underneath the organ stops, which forced "a chimney effect" and the flames then shot through the roof.

Sub Officer Rathbone said that the Albert Hall fire was "as big as it gets".

One thing is certain, the fire service personnel could not have reacted any quicker today to the 999 call than they did 20 years ago.

Within one minute of getting the call at fire control, fire appliances were sent to the scene.

Coincidentally, off-duty Divisional Officer Joseph Jones had been waiting in his car for his wife in Bolton town centre when he spotted the fire exploding from the roof of the town hall, explained Sub Officer Rathbone.

He used his car radio to alert the fire service before joining the operation.

This timetable shows just how quickly fire appliances were mobilised and arrived at the scene and follows the sequence of events, as they unfolded. SATURDAY

16.52: Call received at fire service headquarters reporting fire at Bolton Town Hall.

16.53: First fire appliances are mobilised. Appliances from Bolton Station and Crompton Way are ordered to the scene, as is an aerial platform.

17.01: Additional appliances seconded and a total of five are now at the scene.

17.04: Fire control is now moving appliances around the stations to ensure all the stations who have responded to the town hall fire are covered.

17.09: Chief Fire Officer is called to the scene.

17.11: Within seven minutes the situation has been assessed. Divisional Officer Jones gives an informative message which reveals the ground floor and first floor of the town hall are smoke-logged.

17.18: Emergency tender required for the breathing cylinders.

17.47: By now the scale of the blaze has been assessed and the number of pumps is increased to 20. Five aerial monitors are requested.

18.14: All persons are now accounted for after a thorough search of the building.

18.18: There are now six aerial monitors requested, specifically turntable ladders which can be made into water towers and are particularly suitable for high fires. An aerial platform is seconded from Blackburn.

19.05: Fire is under control and additional assistance is required. There are 12 jets, five aerial monitors and breathing apparatus being used to tackle the fire. There are still 20 pumps at the scene.

20.19: It is now reported that 25 per cent of the building is involved in the fire, a room 70 metres by 90 metres.

20.39: Report made that diesel is low. A general purpose lorry is requested to pick up all the equipment that is lying around.

21.25: Relief pumps are required.

SUNDAY

Relief crews on duty throughout the day.

MONDAY

15.20: Incident is closed.