House partially destroyed and van burnt out in suspected explosion

STV 18 April 2013 07:28 BST

                       

A house has been partially destroyed in a suspected explosion in Inverclyde.

The detached house in Inverclyde was severely damaged in the incident in the early hours of Thursday.

Emergency services were alerted to the fire and possible blast in Inverkip at around 12.30am which has destroyed the roof of the house.

A camper van in the drive of the house in the village’s Findhorn Road has also been left completely burnt out.

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service attended and used a raised platform to battle the flames during the incident.

Police Scotland said officers were treating it as a "serious incident", however they could not provide any further information on the cause of it.

A force spokeswoman said that they had not received any reports of injuries while no one in neighbouring properties were evacuated from their homes.

Police and firefighters remain at the scene and officers are investigating the circumstances surrounding the explosion.

One neighbour told STV News: "I woke up at around 1.10am and could hear voices. I didn't know what it was and I looked out my window and saw the blue lights and smoke everywhere.

"I think firefighters had a hose reel running down the street and there were a lot of them and police. There was a big luxury campervan or mobile home in the driveway, it's been completely destroyed.

"I think it was just a couple that lived at the house, as I never saw any children or anything."

The Scottish Ambulance Service said it received a call regarding the incident at around 12.45am and attended but it did not require to take anyone to hospital for treatment.

The video with this report shows viewer's video from the incident. It does not contain any sound.

Dramatic images of the house in Inverkip on fire © SWNS

Six fire engines tackle fire in row of terraced houses in Denny

STV 18 April 2013 22:18 BST

                              

Fire: Six appliances were called out to contain the blaze.© STV

    

A man has been treated for smoke inhalation after a fire broke out in a row of terraced houses.
Six fire engines were called to the scene in Stoneywood, Denny, after the blaze spread to neighbouring properties.
The fire initially broke out in a first-floor cupboard at around 3pm on Thursday before spreading into the roof space.
A specialist high-reach platform from Dunfermline was dispatched to help contain the fire as firefighters wearing breathing apparatus put out the flames.
One man was treated for smoke inhalation by paramedics at the scene, but was not in a life-threatening condition.
A fire service spokesman said the cause of the blaze was being investigated.

Keep combustible materials away from ignition sources in cupboards.

 

Firefighters treating blaze at common close of flats as suspicious

STV 19 April 2013 09:30 BST                   

                                            

Fire: A block of flats at Court Street was evacuated.

A block of flats had to be evacuated after a "suspicious" blaze broke out in Dundee.

Residents had to be evacuated while crews battled the blaze which started at around 9.30pm on Thursday.

Four appliances from the city's Kingsway, McAlpine Road and Blackness Road tackled the fire at Court Street. It was brought under control shortly after 10pm.

Police Scotland said the blaze was being treated as suspicious and an investigation was under way.

A spokeswoman said: "The fire broke out in the cellar of the common close. It is understood that general waste and cardboard were set alight.

"No-one was injured as a result of the fire and officers are keen to speak to anyone who saw or heard any suspicious activity in the area at the time.

"Anyone with any information that may be useful should contact Police Scotland, Tayside Division on 101, or any police officer. Alternatively information can be passed anonymously via the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111."

Remember the common stair and close should be kept free of combustible materials at all times.

  

 

Two houses destroyed as fire tears through Paisley construction site

STV 23 February 2013 

Blaze: Firefighters battle flames in early hours.

  

A fire has ripped through a building site, destroying two houses which were under construction.

The blaze broke out at the site in the Neilston Road area of Paisley on Friday afternoon.

Two fire appliances from Paisley Community Fire Station were dispatched to the scene and were confronted by a “well-developed fire within two timber-framed houses”.

An additional two engines were needed to bring the fire under control and a specialist height vehicle was also deployed.

Strathclyde Police cordoned off a section of the adjacent Rowan Street to allow fire crews access to the scene.

There were no injuries reported and firefighters remain at the scene.

From STV. 

Here is a link to our Construction Site Course and article: 

http://www.fireisk.co.uk/index.php/training/construction-sites-course

Brave four-year-old saves mum, dad and sister from night time fire in home

 

8 Mar 2013 08:01

QUICK thinking Conor Walker was first downstairs in the morning and saw smoke spewing out from under the kitchen door, so he rushed to tell his parents the house was on fire, and they were able to escape in time with him and baby Lucy.

Conor shows off the teddy he was given by the fire brigade

 

A BOY of four saved the lives of his mum, dad and baby sister after their house caught fire as they slept.
Little Conor Walker was first downstairs in the morning and saw smoke spewing out from under the kitchen door.
He acted quickly, going straight to tell dad David and mum Jan that the house was on fire, and they were able to get outside in time with him and baby Lucy.
David, 39, said: “If it hadn’t been for Conor, we would have been carried out in body bags.
“I can’t praise him enough. I would put him forward for a bravery award if I could.
“The fire officer said he did a really good job and gave him a teddy, which lit up his wee face.”

The fire broke out at about 7.15am at the family home in Lockerbie, Dumfriess-shire.

David told our sister paper the Dumfries & Galloway Standard: “Conor came into our room absolutely trembling and crying and shouted that the house was on fire.
“He’d gone down before us and saw smoke coming under the kitchen door. It was black from the living room side.
“I shot out of bed, got everybody outside and dialed 999.”
David said the smoke alarm in the house was tested days before, but it didn’t sound until five minutes after they fled the house on Wednesday.
He added: “We were outside waiting on the fire brigade when it finally went off.”
The family are staying with Jan’s mum because their house is smoke-damaged, and have criticised housing chiefs for not making them a priority for temporary accommodation.
Firefighters are investigating the cause of the blaze.

Dumfries and Galloway Standard

 

 

A COUPLE and their two children were rescued from the flat in Leith just after midnight after a pan of food went on fire.

Edinburgh family rescued following kitchen blaze 8 Mar 2013 08:16

Firefighters led the family to safety

 

FIREFIGHTERS led a family to safety after a blaze in a kitchen.

Crews were called to a fifth floor flat at Cables Wynd House in the Leith area of Edinburgh at 12.15am where a pan of food was alight.

A man, 29, a woman, 24, and two children, a girl, 7, and boy, 3, were led to safety by firefighters, the fire service said.

They were treated for suspected smoke inhalation at the scene by the fire service and ambulance crews but did not travel to hospital.

A spokeswoman for Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service said: "A pan of food was alight within a fifth floor flat and was extinguished by removal and the property was vented.

 

From Daily Record.

The Fire (Scotland) Act 2005 makes it a requirement to have a Fire Risk Assessment carried out in Places of Public Entertainment & Assembly. Failure to do so can mean fines of up to £20,000 and six months imprisonment.

24 homeless as fire destroys The George Bar and flats in Paisley

Firefighters were called to the blaze in Paisley in the early hours of Sunday

An investigation has been launched into a major blaze that destroyed a pub and flats in Paisley on Sunday, leaving 24 people homeless.

Firefighters were called to The George bar in Causeyside Street at about 03:30, after an "extensive" fire broke out in the building, including flats.

At the height of the fire, seven appliances from Paisley, Renfrew and Polmadie were in attendance.

There were no reports of injuries in the incident.

But the flats above are said to have been seriously damaged.

Emergency crews were at the scene of the fire well into Sunday

Strathclyde Fire and Rescue Service teams wearing breathing apparatus fought the blaze inside the building, while crews tackled the fire from the outside using large main water jets.

Area Commander George McGrandles praised the firefighters, saying their actions prevented the fire from spreading and damaging adjoining properties.

Residents have been evacuated and Renfrewshire Council said the majority have been found temporary accommodation, with two families making their own arrangements.

On its website, the local authority said: "A fire has seriously damaged flats above The George public house on the corner of Causeyside Street and George Street leaving 24 people homeless and leading to road closures in the area.

"Building standards officers from the council and surveyors from the owner's insurance company will be assessing the damage and will decide if the building needs to be demolished."

Mark Macmillan, leader of the council, said: "We are all thankful that everyone is safe and well following this major blaze.

"The council has an important role in incidents like this, from providing accommodation for people who have lost their homes to organising road closures and ensuring damaged buildings are made safe.

"Council employees have been working through the night, alongside their colleagues from the 'blue light' services, to ensure that everyone affected by the fire has somewhere to stay and that life in Paisley town centre can get back to normal as quickly as possible.

"Housing officers will offer support, advice and assistance to those who have lost their homes, helping with their medium to longer term housing needs.

"Building standards will keep working to ensure the area is safe for the public, our town centre team will liaise with local businesses affected by the blaze and our roads service will do all it can to minimise disruption to traffic."

The Fire (Scotland) Act 2005 makes it a requirement to have a Fire Risk Assessment carried out in Places of  Public Entertainment & Assembly. Failure to do so can mean fnes of up to £20,000 and six months imprisonment.

Nobody hurt in fire at Beatles-themed hotel in Liverpool

Can you read this without singing Penny Lane?

---

Firefighters were called to tackle a fire at a hotel in Liverpool yesterday (February 14th), with a fault with the air conditioning unit thought to be to blame.

The Beatles-themed Hard Day's Night hotel in North John Street - a part of the city's centre - was evacuated at around 13:19 GMT after reports of a fire in the penthouse suite.

Crews from Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service were quickly on the scene to tackle the conflagration, using breathing apparatus with two main hoses. Just under six hours later, fire safety officers were dealing with hot spots after the blaze was brought under control.

Nobody was hurt in the incident after an evacuation of the premises quickly took place, while the deployment of eight fire appliances meant there were enough fire fighters on the scene.

While the blaze occurred on the fifth floor, crews undertook an assessment of the fourth storey to ensure the fire had not spread.

Area manager of Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service, Dave Mottram, said: "The fire was initially difficult to get to due to its location but firefighters worked fast to limit the damage.
"The fire was initially located in an area under renovation on the fifth floor. The fire was within voids including roof spaces and walls and by 19.10 GMT we were in the process of damping down and ensuring there was no further fire spread."

The hotel's owner, Mike Dewey, told Click Liverpool that everyone was safely out of the building within ten minutes, but the cause of the fire has not yet been confirmed.

He added that the building would be closed for 24 hours to allow investigations to take place, along with a thorough assessment on the safety of all floors.

All commercial properties and workplaces, including hotels, in Scotland must have a 'suitable and sufficient' fire risk assessment carried out under the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005.

If the assessment is thought to have been carried out to an insufficient extent, the Duty Holder can face an unlimited fine and imprisonment.

Scottish Minister gets glimpse of future housing at BRE Scotland's Innovation Park

Scottish Housing and Welfare Minister, Margaret Burgess MSP took a visit to the BRE Scotland Innovation Park earlier today. The Park is a mini-community of demonstration homes and buildings that will be used to shape future housing in Scotland. It is based at Ravenscraig, the former steelworks site in Lanarkshire, which is currently undergoing significant regeneration.

Accompanied by Rufus Logan, Director of BRE Scotland (second left), the Minister was shown the projects on the Park to date:

• the super energy efficient timber frame visitor centre, designed to achieve BREEAM outstanding which was completed last September
• the Applegreen home - an offsite manufactured volumetric steel frame system house with integrated renewables currently under construction on the site

With responsibility for anti-poverty measures and welfare as well as homes and communities the Minister heard how the houses on the Park will be designed to create warm energy efficient environments for a fraction of the current running costs of Scotland’s existing housing stock.
Rufus Logan said “The Park is all about innovation and applying this to the challenges we face as a society, not only around reducing carbon emissions but also creating a better quality of life for our people. Scotland has the highest proportion of households in fuel poverty in the UK – almost one in four homes are spending more than 10% of their total income on energy to heat and run their homes. We need to address this in the construction and refurbishment of our new and existing homes and the Park is the catalyst to make this happen.”
The Minister met Michael McGuire, lead partner on the Curriculum House, which will be designed and constructed by pre- apprentice and apprentice students from local Motherwell College’s CADD, Architectural Design and Construction courses.
She also launched the build start on the Resource Efficient House, a Zero Waste Scotland demonstration project of how the latest principles in resource efficiency and waste reduction can be applied in house building.
The Minister said “ What I’ve seen here today is an outstanding example of innovation and partnership working in practice,; delivered on a site that will stimulate greater engagement with both industry and individuals interested in learning about, assessing and demonstrating new technologies and building designs. I look forward to visiting again.”
The next phase of buildings to be constructed on the Park include:

• The Homegrown Timber House which will showcase the use of innovative Scottish timber products to deliver an affordable, low embodied energy, healthy and thermally efficient dwelling
• The BRE Refurbished House – the recreation of a full-scale ‘four-in-a-block’ – a typical Scottish dwelling with each of the four compartments refurbished using different approaches, materials and technologies, which will be monitored over time to provide real performance data.

Over the next two years a total of ten full scale homes and buildings will be constructed on the Park. They will demonstrate indigenous designs, materials, techniques and technologies that will address the major challenges faced by the local and global built environment.

For more information, please contact Linda McKeown at BRE on 01923 664569, mobile 0777 2228768, email mckeownl@bre.co.uk

From BRE

Council orders residents to remove communal area items due to fire risk

---

20 Feb 2013

A council has ruled that personal items left in a sheltered housing block communal area must be removed because of the fire risk they pose.

Recent inspections at Wheatfield Court in Luton showed that the items, which include ornaments, pictures and cushions, could obstruct access to the building if firefighters were required.

A spokesman for the local council said that the corridors were "cluttered" and caused a "potentially unsafe environment for both tenants and visitors".

However, residents have reacted by launching a petition against what it calls a "petty" decision from the local authority.

Graham Wright, representing residents of Wheatfield Court, all of whom have signed the petition, told Luton Today that these items make the place "more homely".

"Having them here is not hurting anyone, it just brightens the place up," he explained. "The chairs are over 25 years old. Putting a cushion on them makes them nicer to sit on. How is it harming anyone?”

In response, a council spokesman told the news provider that while the local authority appreciates the residents making the area more homely, items can still pose a fire risk.

"Items where we have given permission to be stored in the communal areas and have been there for several years will be allowed to remain," he explained.

"The safety of our residents is paramount, therefore we must ensure that corridors in particular must be kept as clear as possible as they act as the main thoroughfare in the event of a fire. All furniture within the sheltered housing scheme must also conform to strict fire regulations."

Residents have been told that items must be removed or the items will be taken away.

Petition against fire service privatisation in England & Wales nears 10,000 signatures

18 Feb 2013

A new internet campaign has been launched to oppose government plans to privatise the 46 fire and rescue services in England.

Close to 10,000 signatures have already been received from members of the general public who oppose the idea on campaign website 38 Degrees, with hundreds more being added every day.

It comes after a letter from local government minister, Brandon Lewis, obtained by the Mirror, said that local fire and rescue authorities could look into contracting out their full range of services to "a suitable provider".

Mr Lewis said that while the proposals are "not without controversy", it would help remove barriers and increase choices available to them as many face budget cuts.

However, critics have slammed the idea, saying that privatisation would have a detrimental effect on the life-saving services fire-fighters provide.

The Fire Brigades' Union, London, said: "It looks like the government is planning to privatise our fire service. They're trying to sneak in new laws that 'would enable fire and rescue authorities in England to contract out their full range of services to a suitable provider'.
"Every day, fire-fighters put their lives in danger to keep us safe. Within minutes of an emergency, we can expect fire crews to be there to save lives and protect our property. Privatising this vital service might seem crazy. But that's exactly what the government is trying to quietly slip through a hush-hush parliamentary committee."

It added that people "need to move fast to show the government" people want a fire service that prioritises peoples' lives and profit.

The petition, available here, had 9,216 signatures as of 10.30 GMT on February 18th, with many leaving comments as well.

It comes after Boris Johnson, the Mayor of London, revealed that he would be taking legal action against city's fire authority after it refused to consult on budget cuts.

Proposals include 12 fire station closures in the capital, more than 500 redundancies and £45 million in savings.

New guide on choosing fire risk assessors

The Fire Risk Assessment Competency Council has published new guidance on selecting a competent fire risk assessor.

Aimed at employers and other ‘duty holders’ under UK fire legislation, the guide sets out the steps that should be taken if a specialist fire risk assessor is required to undertake a fire risk assessment.
While the guide says that duty holders may themselves be able to carry out a fire risk assessment in small or low risk premises, if a specialist is needed duty holders should make ‘reasonable checks’ to ensure that the specialist is competent. This includes checking that those providing the service have independent registration with, or certification from, a professional or certification body and that they meet the competency criteria established by the Fire Risk Assessment Competency Council.

The guide goes on to list some steps to help verify the competence and suitability of a prospective fire risk assessor and highlights the importance of adequate management systems being in place in any company for whom the fire risk assessor works, even if the fire risk assessor is self-employed.
‘The Fire Risk Assessment Competency Council recommends the use of fire risk assessment companies, including sole traders, which are third party certificated to appropriate schemes operated by certification bodies which have been UKAS accredited to certificate against such schemes,’ the guide says.
It gives an overview of the different types of certification and professional registration schemes, and provides a matrix of schemes that are currently available.

Colin Todd, managing director of fire safety consultants CS Todd & Associates and a member of the Fire Risk Assessment Competency Council told FRM:
‘This is excellent news for our profession. While government policy remains that there is unlikely ever to be a legal requirement for duty holders to use the services of registered or certificated persons to carry out their fire risk assessments, the Fire Risk Assessment Competency Council has led the way in signposting duty holders to sources of competent persons and companies.

‘This is consistent with government advice on third party certification which, in effect, states that the use of companies that are third party certificated by a UKAS-accredited certification body for their fire protection products and services provides reassurance to duty holders and may constitute a defence of due diligence, in the event that fire precautions are found to be deficient.’
To download the guide click here 

From FRM Journal.

For details of our Services and Courses, please click on the link below:

http://issuu.com/fireisk/docs/brochure_single_pages?mode=window&backgroundColor=%23222222

Fire in Edinburgh Prison

An inmate has been treated for smoke inhalation after a fire in his cell at Saughton prison.

The blaze broke out at around 9.45pm on Monday in the cell.
Prison officers managed to extinguish the flames before Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service arrived.
Firefighters used breathing apparatus to make sure the fire was out before calling an ambulance for the inmate.
The 46-year-old was treated for smoke inhalation. It is not yet known what caused the fire.

From STV

Coroner advocates Sprinklers in Buildings of more than 30 meters in hieght.

Coroner Keith Wiseman said:

"Social housing providers should be encouraged to consider the retro-fitting of sprinklers in all existing high-rise buildings in excess of 30m in height, particularly those identified by fire and rescue services as having complex designs that make fire-fighting more hazardous and/or difficult."

The statement followed the inquest into two Southampton firemen who died fighting a fire at Shirley Towers in 2010 which took the lives of Firefighters Jim Shears, of Poole, and Alan Bannon, of Southampton.
An inquest in July 2012 into the two deaths returned a verdict of death by misadventure.
A copy of the Coroner's Letter under Rule 43 can be viewed via the link below.
 

 http://www.bafsa.org.uk/pdfs/snews/00001256.pdf

Three people in hospital after fire breaks out at Glasgow flat

                       

 

Firefighters: The blaze broke out in the flat in Paisley Road West.

Three people have been taken to hospital after a fire broke out in a flat in Glasgow’s south side.
The blaze occurred at the first floor property in the Cessnock end of Paisley Road West.
Strathclyde Fire and Rescue said it received a 999 call about the fire at around 9.15am on Wednesday.
Four appliances were called out to tackle the fire, which was near the Cessnock Underground stop on the street.
A fire service spokesman said a man sustained moderate burns to his arms and hands in the blaze, while another man and a woman rescued from the building suffered from mild smoke inhalation.
The Scottish Ambulance Service confirmed the three casualties Southern General Hospital for treatment following the blaze.
Another woman who suffered mild smoke inhalation was treated at the scene but did not require to go to hospital.
The blaze was extinguished by around 10.50am while the fire service confirmed there do not appear to be any suspicious circumstances surrounding it.

From STV

Glasgow City Centre Fire

A huge inferno was tackled by firefighters in Glasgow city centre on Sunday morning (February 3rd), taking nearly four hours to get under control.
Indeed, some 100 firefighters and fire safety officers attended the scene in Dixon Street after a former bedding shop went up in flames at 01.50 GMT.
Crews from Calton, Polmadie and Maryhill Community Fire Stations were the first on the scene and quickly found access to the inside of the building to help tackle the top-floor fire.
However, because of the rapid spread of the blaze, additional resources from across Glasgow and Lanarkshire were called to the three-storey building.
According to Strathclyde Fire and Rescue (SFR), the task of containing the conflagration was made trickier by the high winds hitting the city in the early hours of Sunday morning. The job was made even more difficult after the roof collapsed at around 04.40 GMT - nearly three hours after the blaze started.
Just over half-an-hour later, the fire was contained - with the help of aerial rescue pumps - before it was later put out. Fire crews used thermal imaging devices to ensure no pockets of fire remained in the building.
A statement released by the local fire and rescue authority said: "Crews remained all day Sunday to make the scene safe bringing the incident to its conclusion.
"The cause of the blaze will now be subject to a full investigation carried out by SFR's Incident Research and Investigation section."
Fire crews also worked hard to ensure neighbouring buildings were not destroyed in the blaze, SFR said, while nobody was hurt in the incident.
It's not the first serious fire to have affected the city in recent months. In December, Glasgow firefighters were called in to tackle a blaze in the basement of a tower block.
Officers were forced to use breathing apparatus to help stop the blaze, which was thought to have been started because of an electrical problem, from spreading to other floors.

Frm @fireisndustry

We can avoid many fires in the home by checking electrical appliances.

We can avoid many  fires in the home by checking electrical appliances.

Recently, we have highlighted fires in Domestic properties caused by:  a freezer, washing machine, dishwasher and laptop. All common items in any home.These fires have caused injury and death and could be avoided.
In Commercial properties it is a Legislative requirement to have Portable Appliance Testing (PAT) carried out on a regular basis. There is no such requirement for personal electrical items in the home to be tested.

In this age of austerity, the incidence of fires in electrical appliances will rise due to people not being able to afford new appliances as their current appliances grow old and people trying to carry out DIY repairs.

It is too easy to check YouTube for tips on repairs but unless you are competent you may create a dangerous situation which could affect you and your family.

Here are some tips on how to keep your home safe:

Electrical Safety

Follow this safety advice to avoid a fire caused by electrical appliances in your home

 Did you know faulty electrics such as overloaded sockets and faulty electrical appliances cause around 7,000 house fires across the country every year?

General Advice

• Make sure all electrical appliances have a British or European safety mark when you buy them.
• Don’t overload your sockets - keep one appliance to one socket where possible.
• Unplugging appliances when you are going to bed or not using them helps to reduce the risk of fire.
• High powered appliances such as washing machines should have a single plug socket.

Electrical Appliances

• Never put anything metallic in the microwave
• Do not leave your washing machine on overnight or when you go out
• Clean the filter on your tumble dryer regularly and remove fluff
• Clean behind the fridge/freezer in order to avoid the blocking of air vents

Electric Blankets

• Don’t leave electric blankets folded when storing them over summer months as this damages the internal wiring – store them flat or rolled up.
• If your electric blanket isn’t thermostat controlled, unplug the blanket before you get into bed.
• Don’t buy second hand blankets; check your blanket regularly for wear and tear.

Please read about our changes in electric blanket testing for 2012

LFB outlines cost saving proposals

14 Jan 2013

The London Fire Brigade (LFB) has outlined a number of proposals to save money over the next three years while ensuring that frontline services are maintained and fire safety is upheld.
In its Draft Fifth London Safety Plan, it sets out a number of ways in which £28.8 million worth of cost savings can be made without reducing response times to incidents around the capital.
At present, the first fire engine arrives at an emergency within an average of six minutes of a call being made, while the second, if required, usually arrives within eight minutes.
The brigade is confident that it can close down 12 fire stations and reduce the number of fire engines from two to one at seven stations without affecting these response times.
Among the stations to be closed under these new proposals are Westminster, Clapham, Bow, Southwark, New Cross and Knightsbridge.
Chingford, Hayes, Peckham and Leytonstone are among those that would lose a fire engine, while four stations - Hendon, Orpington, Stanmore and Twickenham - would all gain one.
LFB claims the plans are designed to ensure that fire engines are located where they are most needed in order to keep the city's residents as safe as possible.
This will involve moving some of them to areas in outer London, where response times are currently slower than they are in central London.
Commenting on the plans, Ron Dobson, commissioner of the LFB, said: "Like virtually every other public service, the brigade needs to make savings.
"In the last four years, we have cut £52 million without reducing frontline services. Additional savings cannot be found without making significant changes to how we keep London safe.
"In the last decade, demand for the Brigade's service has changed dramatically and it's time to reflect that in how our fire stations, engines and staff are organised."
He added: "I am confident these savings can be made while keeping London safe."
Also outlined in the Draft Fifth London Safety Plan are proposals to start charging for persistent false fire alarms, encourage the installation of sprinkler systems where it is deemed appropriate and to look into the possibility of setting up a Twitter feed for emergency calls.
All of the plans will be discussed by members of the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority on January 21st and final decisions will be made on June 20th following a public consultation.

There are no known plans of Station closures in Scotland, although that may change after the re-organisation with 8 Fire & Rescue Services being formed into 1 Scottish Fire Service. We will keep you informed.

Business owners given fire safety warning following newsagent fine

14th Jan 2013

Small business owners in Greater Manchester have been warned about the importance of upholding fire safety laws after a newsagent in the region was handed a fine.
Yakub Patel, who runs Hayhurst News on Walshaw Road in Bury, pleaded guilty to four offences under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. (In Scotland it is The Fire (Scotland) Act 2005 )

Appearing at Bury and Rochdale Magistrates Court on Thursday January 10th 2013, he was issued a £1,000 fine and ordered to pay costs of £1,994.
Inspectors from the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Authority visited Mr Patel's store in July 2011 and found that the second floor of the three-storey building was being used as a flat, while the first floor housed an office and a store room.

There was no fire alarm inside the building and the only means of escape from these upper floors had been left unprotected from smoke or the spread of fire.
Furthermore, the back gate leading out of the premises was secured with a padlock, which meant that in the event of a blaze anyone attempting to escape would have been trapped in the yard.
Mr Patel also admitted that he had not carried out a fire risk assessment on the property - something that is mandatory for owners of all commercial premises in England and Wales under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. (In Scotland it is The Fire (Scotland) Act 2005 )

Officers served a prohibition notice preventing the 61-year-old from using the second floor and restricting his use of the second floor, with which he complied.
He has since arranged for work to be carried out inside the shop to rectify the problems identified, and has spent more than £32,000 on a fire alarm system that fire safety professionals say goes beyond the level required.
These actions were taken into account when magistrates issued his fines.
"Unfortunately Mr Patel has learned the hard way that as a business you must consider fire safety," said Peter O'Reilly, director of protection and prevention at Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service.
"I would urge all small businesses to review their fire risk assessments and if they don't have one to do it as soon as possible."

This could happen to any of you. Be careful with your Laptop it could cause death.

• 

  A couple from the USA lost their 25 year old son in a fire at home on June 4th. The son who had graduated with an MBA from the University of Wisconsin-Madison two weeks earlier had come home for a while. He had lunch with his dad at home and decided to go back to clean up his hostel room. His father told him to wait, to meet his mother, before he went back for a few days. He decided to take a nap while waiting for his Mom to come back home from work. Some time later their neighbours called 911 when they saw black smoke coming out of the house.

  
  Unfortunately, the 25 years old died in the three year old house. It took several days of investigation to find out the cause of the fire. It was determined that the fire was caused by the laptop resting on the bed. When the laptop was on the bed cooling fan did not get the air to cool the computer and that is what caused the fire. He did not even wake up to get out of the bed because he died of breathing in carbon monoxide.
  This from his Mother:
  
  "The reason I am writing this to all of you is that I have seen many of us using the laptop while in bed. Let us all decide and make it a practice not to do that. The risk is real. Let us make it a rule not to use the laptop on bed with blankets and pillows around. Please educate as many people as you can.
  Please pass to everyone you know, you might save a life" 

Washing machine causes house fire in Langrick

A house in Langrick has been severely damaged by fire following a blaze this morning.

The kitchen of the home in Meer Booth Road was gutted by the flames, and the rest of the house suffered smoke damage as a result of the fire at about 9.30am.
Fire crews believe it was caused by an electrical fault in the washing machine.

How safe are the electrical appliances in your home?  Commercial properties by Regulation need to test Their Portable Appliances on a regular basis. Domestic properties can have old washing machines, televisions, tumble dryers which can be dangerous and cause a fire in your home. 
Get you portable appliances checked and stay safe.
Fire Isk Assessments & Training Ltd

Fire crews rescue elderly residents from burning block of Glasgow flats

Two elderly people were rescued from a burning block of flats in the early hours of Sunday morning.

The fire, at the corner of John Wood Street and Bay Street in Port Glasgow, was attended by crews from two stations after it was reported around midnight.
Six fire-fighters using breathing apparatus and high-pressure jets rescued two elderly residents and extinguished the fire, described as "well-developed".
The residents received oxygen therapy at the scene before the arrival of the ambulance service. They were taken to hospital suffering from slight smoke inhalation.
A Strathclyde Fire & Rescue spokesperson said: "Fire can strike anywhere and it is vital every home has at least one working smoke alarm. If fire does break-out then an alarm will give you and your family potentially life-saving minutes to get to safety.
"We are asking any member of the public who is concerned someone - like a vulnerable neighbour, friend or relative - may be at increased risk from fire, to contact us so we can help ensure their home is fire safe. Fire fighters want to prevent fires starting in the first place and will happily arrange free Home Fire Safety Visits to protect our communities."
To arrange a free Home Fire Safety Visit for you or someone you know, call Strathclyde Fire & Rescue on 0800 0731 999 or text "check" to 61611. You can also get in touch by calling your local community fire station.
From STV

Lakanal House fire: Victim's 'hour-long 999 call'

A woman who died in a fire at flats in south London fell unconscious while on a 999 call pleading for help for almost an hour, an inquest heard.

Catherine Hickman, 31, made the call from her 11th-floor home in Lakanal House, Camberwell, on 3 July 2009.
She told the operator: "Oh my God, listen, I can see flames at the door."
An inquest is being held into her death and those of Helen Udoaka, 34, and her three-week-old daughter and Dayana Francisquini, 26, and her two children.
Jurors heard how faulty electrical equipment started the fire on the ninth floor of the 14 storey block, which housed 98 maisonettes.
It spread to other flats including number 79, where Ms Hickman lived, and flat 81, where Ms Udoaka and her baby daughter Michelle had gathered with Ms Francisquini, six-year-old Thais, and Filipe, three.
'Orange everywhere' Counsel to the "super inquest" James Maxwell-Scott, went through a series of 999 calls made as the fire took hold.
He said: "It is clear that this call lasted nearly an hour and that the line was still open to fire brigade control when Ms Hickman lost consciousness."
She spoke to the operator a number of times, explaining that more and more smoke was getting in to her flat.
Mr Maxwell-Scott told the hearing at Lambeth Town Hall in Brixton that at 16:23 BST: "Catherine Hickman told the operator that black smoke was coming right up outside the window and that she could hear a noise.

Almost 100 families were left homeless by the fire

"She said: 'What should I do, should I get out?' The operator told her to go into a room where there was less smoke."
Mr Maxwell-Scott said: "She asked whether she should go downstairs or out into the corridor and the operator said that she ought not to open the door because she did not know what was on the other side."
At 16:30, she told the operator: "It's orange, it's orange everywhere" and that smoke was coming through the floorboards and she could not open any windows.
Jurors heard she told the operator she could see flames at the door before saying: "I'm getting really hot in here."
By 16:55 the operator told fire crews she had stopped talking and they could not hear her breathing.
No charges Ms Udoaka had also called the emergency services to say she and her baby were trapped and "everywhere is choked with smoke".
Mr Maxwell-Scott said she was told to use a towel or blanket to stop the smoke coming in.
Jurors were shown photographs and a short video detailing how the lethal fire spread with thick smoke pouring from the top of the building and the internal corridor filled with smoke.
One image showed a resident trying to put together a makeshift rope to lower himself off a balcony to escape.
Jurors also heard that last May it was decided that there was no realistic prospect of any prosecution for manslaughter against Southwark Council or any company in relation to the fire.
Almost 100 families were made homeless by the fire.
The inquest, being heard by Assistant Deputy Coroner Frances Kirkham, is expected to last until the end of March.
The inquest continues.
From BBC 14th  January 2013

Freezer causes fire in Hampshire Co-op store

 Jan 2013

Investigators believe that a faulty freezer may have been the cause of a serious fire at a Co-operative store in Hampshire on Saturday January 5th.
The blaze broke out inside the retail outlet in Waterlooville at around 2.50pm and staff immediately called the emergency services after seeing smoke issuing from the back of a freezer unit.
More than 30 firefighters from Waterlooville, Horndean, Cosham and Southsea arrived on the scene to find the single-storey building well alight.
They used four sets of breathing apparatus, four water jets and an aerial ladder platform in their efforts to extinguish the flames.
At one point they had to withdraw from the building over fears that the roof would collapse.
Tony Deacon, group manager at Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: "We have seen from fires in similar shops in this area how quickly the roof can be compromised.
"Our initial crews on the scene reported all members of the public had been evacuated from the building and we then quickly withdrew our initial crew due to the concern over the roof.
"The roof then collapsed once the flames got into the roof space and we were left to tackle the fire from outside the building."
The store was completely destroyed by the blaze, but fortunately no one was seriously injured.
Three people were treated for smoke inhalation at the scene and one of them was later taken to hospital as a precaution.
It comes as the London Fire Brigade is warning of the dangers of fridges and freezers with regard to fire safety, pointing out that modern appliances contain large amounts of plastic and highly flammable insulation, causing large fires that spread quickly.
"London Fire Brigade wants to see tougher standards so that the highly flammable insulation in fridges and freezers is better protected from fire," said deputy commissioner Rita Dexter.
"In the meantime, our advice is that if people notice any strange noises coming from their fridge or freezer, they should call the manufacturer or an electrical repair expert immediately."

From FIA

Remember to have PAT Testing carried out regularly on all your electrical appliances.

Animals killed in Staffordshire cattery blaze

 Jan 2013

A total of 20 cats have died following a fire that broke out at a cattery in Staffordshire in the early hours of Friday January 4th.
The incident occurred at around 5.30am at the Pine Trees Cattery on Stafford Road in Cannock.
Six fire engines were sent to the scene and three water jets were used to tackle the flames, which had engulfed the building by the time crews arrived.
Station manager Dermot Hogan said the building itself has been destroyed, since it was predominantly made of wood.
He also stated that the fire had started accidentally and was not being treated as suspicious.
"A fire investigation was carried out to establish how the fire started and we believe an electrical fault within one of the pens is to blame," he remarked.
The Pine Trees Cattery's website states that the facility offers heated chalets and family pens for the cats in its care, and only takes inoculated animals.
A dedicated page has been set up on the site to provide visitors with information about the fire, on which the owner states that three of her own cats were among the casualties.
"All cats have now been identified and accounted for, and the two surviving cats are with the vet," Lynn Durnall noted in a statement.
"Both are expected to recover although one will take a little longer due to his burns.
"All of the deceased cats are also being held at the local vets E.C. Straiton's in Penkridge and will be kept there pending the wishes of the owners."
From FIA

A 'suitable and sufficient' fire risk assessment must be carried out on all commercial properties in Scotland, including pubs, under the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005
If the assessment is deemed to have been carried out to an insufficient extent, the Duty Holder can face an unlimited fine or up to two years in prison.

Somerset pub destroyed in blaze

10 Jan 2013

A pub in Somerset was destroyed when a blaze ripped through the building in the early hours of Sunday January 6th, prompting numerous calls to the emergency services.
Firefighters arrived at the Bell Inn, part of the Hungry Horse chain, on Preston Road in Yeovil at around 4.20am and immediately requested back-up.
Eight fire engines attended the scene as crews battled to extinguish the flames within the two-storey building, which had engulfed the ground and first floors, as well as the rear of the roof.
Further appliances were drafted in later on in the morning, with crews arriving from across the region to help in the effort.
The pub was said to be "severely damaged" by the blaze, although fortunately no one was injured. An investigation has been launched to determine the cause of the fire.
According to the Western Gazette, the owners of the Bell Inn have promised to rebuild the pub later this year. In the meantime staff will be redeployed to other establishments.
Geoff Collins, a local man who witnessed the inferno, told the newspaper: "It is devastating for the area as it is the best family pub in Yeovil.
"It has a large car park, huge playground at the back, the food area is always busy and they had a great line up of live music booked throughout the year."
He added: "The smoke was so thick you couldn't see the pub. At first we couldn't see flames but eventually we saw fire in the bar area. I can only guess that was as the fire moved around."
From FIA

A 'suitable and sufficient' fire risk assessment must be carried out on all commercial properties in Scotland, including pubs, under the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005
If the assessment is deemed to have been carried out to an insufficient extent, the Duty Holder can face an unlimited fine or up to two years in prison.

Cannabis farm triggers fire in industrial unit

10 Jan 2013

A cannabis farm was found to have caused a fire inside an industrial unit in Lancashire, which broke out during the evening of Tuesday January 8th.
Firefighters were called to the converted barn on Ratten Lane in Hutton near Preston shortly before 8pm. They used tools to gain access to the building, which had been split into three storage units, and discovered that the entire unit was alight.
Another eight fire engines from across the county were then dispatched to the scene, along with an aerial ladder platform and a hazardous materials unit.
According to the Lancashire Evening Post, it is believed that the barn was being used to grow cannabis, and that an electrical fault within the hydroponic set-up started the blaze.
Detective sergeant Ian Derbyshire told the newspaper: "It would appear on further investigation that the property had been used to house what would appear to be a reasonably sized cannabis farm.
"An investigation is ongoing and we would appeal to anyone with any information to come forward."
Crews spent four hours tackling the flames before declaring that the fire had been brought under control and that their involvement on the scene was being reduced.
They also confirmed that run-off water from the operation has been successfully contained and that there was minimal damage to the environment.
No one was inside the building at the time of the incident, nor were there any reported injuries.
It comes after a number of homes in Salford, Greater Manchester had to be evacuated as a fire safety precaution following a blaze at a suspected cannabis farm.
The blaze broke out inside a terraced house, damaging lofts in two neighbouring homes. A 28-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of growing cannabis.
Detective sergeant Rachel Smith said: "This incident once again demonstrates the reckless danger inherent in producing cannabis. This cannabis farm has not only been producing illegal drugs but it has put nearby people in potential danger."

From FIA

If you have a Cannabis Farm, make sure your electrics are PAT Tested regularly. ;-)

09 January 2013

SFR battles industrial blaze in Glasgow

Govan fire is successfully brought under control

Firefighters from across Glasgow battled to extinguish a blaze at an industrial building in the city's Southside.
Three appliances from Polmadie, Cowcaddens and Maryhill rushed to Fairley Street in Govan around 6:20 this morning (Wednesday, January 9). The crews arrived to find the property engulfed by thick smoke and were quickly bolstered by an additional appliance from Pollok.
Forcing entry with cutting equipment, six firefighters donned full breathing apparatus and immediately moved to combat the blaze. The crews fought their way to the source of the fire and found a large quantity of industrial materials were alight.
With the use of both a main water jet and a high-pressure hosereel jet, the firefighters set about bringing the flames under control. With the fire completely surrounded, the team successfully extinguished the flames and used a Positive Pressure Ventilation fan to clear smoke from the building.
No persons were injured in the incident, the cause of which is under investigation by Strathclyde Fire & Rescue.

From SF&RS