London Fire Brigade report – Two jailed after Wood Green pub declared ‘potential death trap’

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Astonishing report just issued by the Fire Brigade:

“The former manager and leaseholder of a Wood Green public house have been jailed for nearly six months for breaking fire safety laws following a successful prosecution by the Brigade. “

The Manager and the Leaseholder of Royal Oak, were each handed custodial sentences of 24 weeks after pleading guilty to eight offences under the

Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.

“Our fire safety inspecting officers were alerted by Haringey Council that The Prince of Wales, at 1 Finsbury Road, was being used as an unlicensed House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) and that they had concerns about fire safety.”

On 14 November 2011, a joint inspection was carried out by a Brigade fire safety inspector and the council.

Following the visit, our inspectors raised a number of fire safety concerns including:

  • Inadequate fire detection
  • Compromised escape routes
  • Defective fire doors
  • Inadequate fire separation between the staircase and kitchen
  • No staff training records
  • Disabled smoke alarms in the building’s corridor, kitchen, and a number of bedrooms
  • A motorbike containing petrol in one of the bedrooms
  • No emergency fire plan in place
  • No fire risk assessment for the premises had been carried out

To read more of this London Fire Brigade report click here

London Fire Risk Assessments Advice: Coincidently we have been involved with a similar Premise under the same circumstances but we were engaged at an early enough time so as to be able to help the Responsible Persons in satisfying the requirements of both Prohibition and Enforcement Notices. By working together and liaising with the Fire Authority and the local Authority we were able to assist in the lifting of the Prohibition Notices so that the Building could be used to its full potential. We were able to satisfy the requirements in relation to the Enforcement Notice. We ensured that the Building could be used safely and so that the Responsible Person could maintain and exhibit a level of Fire Safety Management so as to avoid any further enforcement actions. They did not incur any monetary fines and were not prosecuted.

If you are in a similar situation perhaps in relation to London Night Clubs, Pubs, Bars and any premise with mixed use the earlier you show due diligence and seek professional help the less likely it will be that serious punitive action will be considered Call us now to discuss how we can help you 01689 890879

London Fire Brigades Commissioner Ron Dobson delivers Fantastic News.

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Fire deaths in the capital have been cut in half over the last five years, according to new figures released.

Last year, 30 people sadly lost their lives to fire – the lowest figure this millennium – compared with 59 in 2010/11.

In the last year alone, the number of fatalities has come down by 30 per cent but fire chiefs are warning Londoners not to become complacent about their safety. The statistics also show recorded fires have fallen over time.

Last year there were around 54 fires each day compared to 75 fires per day in 2010/11.* The statistics also show that last year, for the first time since records began in 1966, there were fewer than 20,000 fires in a 12 month period.

“Fire stations and fire engines do not stop fires happening; proactive prevention work and a vigilant population does. The figures are a credit to firefighters, fire engineers, fire investigators, community safety specialists and many other staff who have made huge progress in educating people about the importance of fire safety.”

London Fire Risk Assessments Advice: What fantastic news for all in the Industry and for the Responsible Persons within all types of premises for taking Fire Safety so seriously and proactively protecting their people and property. Lets keep up the good work – for any Fire Safety advice call 01689 890879 alternatively just take a look at our Fire Risk Assessment packages to see how we can help you! Click here for more information

Battersea – gym evacuated after Restaurant fire

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Four fire engines and 21 firefighters and officers were called to reports of a fire affecting a gym in Lavender Hill in Battersea.

Borough Commander Darren Munro who was at the scene said: “When crews arrived they discovered the fire had actually started in an outside area next to a restaurant below the gym and had then spread to a wall cavity attached to the restaurant. Smoke from the fire was affecting the gym so around 60 people were evacuated as a precaution.

“Our crews worked quickly to get the fire under control and stop it from spreading but will remain at the scene damping down remaining hot-spots for some time.”

London Fire Risk Assessments Advice: One of the lessons to be learnt from this incident is that you should always check that the Fire Risk Assessment for your Building identifies that as far as possible;  The Fire Compartmentation and Separation of areas which extends into created voids and that Ceilings and Walls are intact and form a suitable and sufficient, Fire resisting, Fire separating barriers. Check your Fire Risk Assessment and if that section is missing contact us now! 01689 890879 or click here

Storage Cupboard Fire in Thornton Heath

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A man was injured after a fire in flats above a row of shops on the High Street in Thornton Heath yesterday evening. He was taken to hospital by the London Ambulance Service suffering from minor burns. Two other people left the flats before the Brigade arrived at the scene. Crew Manager Adam Hills, who was at the fire said:

“None of the flats in the building had smoke alarms fitted. It is vital that you have at least one smoke alarm on every level of your home and test it regularly, as it gives you early warning in the event of a fire.”

Firefighters confined the blaze to a storage room on the first floor, which was badly damaged in the blaze.

Four fire engines and 21 firefighters and officers from Norbury and West Norwood attended the incident.

London Fire Risk Assessments Advice: Storage cupboards in the common areas of Residential premises are usually the responsibility of the Residents. So often our ‘Co-ordinating Team’ witness storage up to the ceiling, sometimes even damaging the ceiling itself and the lighting. Reducing Fire loading should be a priority – if you don’t want the items don’t store them remove them from site.

Soho tailor fire prompts halogen light warning

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A tailor’s workshop on the top floor of a building on Foubert’s Place in Soho was damaged by fire. London Fire Brigade Fire investigators believe the blaze may have been caused by the radiant heat from a halogen wall light placed too close to a wooden shelf and other combustible items.

The blaze has prompted a safety warning about keeping bright lights, such as halogen lamps, away from combustible materials.

A passer-by raised the alarm and called the Brigade after spotting smoke outside the premises.

Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus forced entry to the tailor’s workshop and brought the fire under control. The fire was confined to the workshop, which was partly damaged by the blaze.

London Fire Brigade’s Head of Fire Investigation Charlie Pugsley said:

“Very bright lights, such as halogen lamps, can get incredibly hot and set fire to combustible materials so it’s important to keep them well away from anything that might catch fire, such as wood or fabric. Keep clothing, sheets, and curtains well away too and always turn them off when you leave the room.”

Two fire engines and around 12 firefighters and officers from Soho fire station attended the incident.

London Fire Risk Assessments advice: Keeping combustible materials and combustible waste away for ignition sources is so important. The LFRA co-ordinating team monitor the levels of combustibles at all the sites they project manage – “It is an ongoing issue in some premises to get people to reduce their Fire Loading. People think we are overly cautious and that their few items of storage cant possibly make a difference”. “We have seen Residential Storage cupboards crammed so full that the items stored have broken the internal cupboard light and damaged the false ceilings”. It is so important to keep Fire Loading to a minimum and all combustibles away from ignition sources – The Fire Risk Assessment for you premise should identify and deficiency in regards to Fire Loading so check it out.

For more information on our Co-ordinating service click here