28 April 2013

A section of roof at the National Library of Wales in Aberystwyth has been destroyed by fire.

Flames and smoke were seen coming from the roof at the rear and up to 300 staff and 100 visitors were evacuated from the building.

More than 30 firefighters attended, and it was confirmed by 18:30 BST on Friday that the blaze was out, just under four hours after it was reported. Library staff said it was not known how it began, but everyone was safe. Arwel Jones, director of public services at the library, said workers had been on the roof near to where the fire started, but it was impossible to say at the moment whether that was linked to the incident.

26 April 2013

A 15-year-old boy has been arrested on suspicion of arson after Sheffield ski centre was set alight earlier this week.

The Ski Village in Vale Road was the scene of a conflagration on Wednesday (April 24th), with resulting investigations suggesting its cause was suspicious.Around 100 phone calls were made to South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue (SYFR) as the fire's smoke filled the city's sky, making it visible to thousands of local residents.SYFR quickly responded with two crews from Central and one from Rivelin, spending around five hours tackling and putting out the blaze before leaving.

The conflagration centered on a shed and two large wooden outbuildings, both thought to be a part of the former children's playground. Nobody was hurt in the incident and the facility remains closed from two previous fires last year.

While there is no suggestion the ski centre hadn't been assessed, all non-domestic premises in England and Wales must have a 'suitable and sufficient' fire risk assessment carried out under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 to reduce the risk of fire. If the assessment is thought to have been carried out to an insufficient extent, the Responsible Person can face an unlimited fine or up to two years in prison.

26 April 2013

London Fire Brigade (LFB) has revealed that there are more than ten fires a week in care homes across the capital, raising questions over whether more can be done to reduce the risk.

According to the emergency services, the majority of premises are not fitted with sprinklers, increasing the risk of injury to those living and working in these buildings.

The BBC reports that the LFB dealt with 540 fires in these homes last year alone, with two fatalities and 26 injured because of it.And with the Quality Care Commission's figures showing there are around 900 care homes for the elderly in the capital, local authorities are being urged to look at how things can be improved. Deputy Commissioner Rita Dexter told the news provider that changes must be made to guarantee the safety of those living in these properties.

Active Fire Management conducts fire risk assessments across hundreds of care homes throughout the UK, Wales & Scotland. For further information click here.

04 April 2013

More than 50 backpackers were hurriedly evacuated from a hostel in Scotland after a blaze tore through the building yesterday morning (April 3rd).

Fire safety officers and firefighters were called to the conflagration in Inverness at around 05:00BST after reports of flames coming from three storeys. Nobody was hurt in the incident after local fire crews worked to get those affected out of the vicinity quickly, putting them up in a nearby shopping centre. According to reports, smoke lingered across the city centre for hours and local roads were shut as emergency crews tackled the blaze. Early indications suggest the fire started on the same floor as a kitchen, while police are not treating the blaze as suspicious. Investigations into its cause are ongoing. Around 35 firefighters attended the scene and brought the blaze under control hours later.

Under the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005, employers must carry out a fire-risk assessment of their workplace for the purpose of identifying any risks to the safety of employees and others in respect of harm caused by fire in the workplace. Failure to do so could lead to a fine or up to two years in prison.

28 March 2013

A historic building in Birmingham - one where The Beatles once played - has been destroyed by a fire, with arsonists thought to be behind the incident.

The Cash Converters store in Kings Heath used to be the Ritz Ballroom in days gone by, playing host to some of the world's biggest music acts. But Birmingham Post reports that the former rock venue is now badly damaged after the blaze started on Wednesday morning (March 27th), which saw 40 firefighters and fire safety officers attend at its peak. Now, the local fire and rescue association and police will undertake a joint investigation to find out the cause of the fire.

Early indications suggest, however, that it was caused by arsonists.Local roads were closed for up to eight hours while the blaze was tackled, but nobody was hurt in the incident.

Non-domestic premises in England and Wales must have a 'suitable and sufficient' fire risk assessment carried out under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.If the assessment is thought to have been carried out to an insufficient extent, the Responsible Person can face an unlimited fine or up to two years in prison.