St. Swithin stages a fire drill, but Duncan and Dick refuse to go along with it, preferring to play cards as Bingham urges them to flee the building.
To rouse them out of their apathy, Loftus appoints them 'Fire Wardens', a decision which infuriates Bingham as he had enjoyed the authority that went with the post.
As the next drill begins, Bingham gets so carried away he starts a real fire in a waste paper basket. It spreads, and threatens the hospital.
The fire brigade are sent for, but ignore the call as they have responded to numerous false alarms, mostly made by an over-enthusiastic Bingham.
In desperation, Duncan and Dick steal the fire engine, and race back to St. Swithins...
The 'fire drill which turns into a real fire' idea is most commonly associated with the classic 'The Germans' episode of 'Fawlty Towers', but here is an earlier version, minus the 'Hitler' jokes.
The late Scottish actor Duncan Lamont makes a wonderfully deadpan fire chief in 'McNab', reminding one at times of the legendary Rikki Fulton.
Funniest moment - stuck in a traffic jam on the way to St. Swithins, Duncan tries to sound the alarm on the fire engine, but accidentally activates the hydraulic ladder!
To rouse them out of their apathy, Loftus appoints them 'Fire Wardens', a decision which infuriates Bingham as he had enjoyed the authority that went with the post.
As the next drill begins, Bingham gets so carried away he starts a real fire in a waste paper basket. It spreads, and threatens the hospital.
The fire brigade are sent for, but ignore the call as they have responded to numerous false alarms, mostly made by an over-enthusiastic Bingham.
In desperation, Duncan and Dick steal the fire engine, and race back to St. Swithins...
The 'fire drill which turns into a real fire' idea is most commonly associated with the classic 'The Germans' episode of 'Fawlty Towers', but here is an earlier version, minus the 'Hitler' jokes.
The late Scottish actor Duncan Lamont makes a wonderfully deadpan fire chief in 'McNab', reminding one at times of the legendary Rikki Fulton.
Funniest moment - stuck in a traffic jam on the way to St. Swithins, Duncan tries to sound the alarm on the fire engine, but accidentally activates the hydraulic ladder!