23 February 2012Historic Hotel Damaged by Fire
A historic hotel in Devon has been badly damaged after a fire broke out in the premises yesterday morning (20th February).
Fire crews were called to the Royal Seven Stars in The Plains, Totnes, at around 6:30am to tackle the…
A historic hotel in Devon has been badly damaged after a fire broke out in the premises yesterday morning (20th February).
Fire crews were called to the Royal Seven Stars in The Plains, Totnes, at around 6:30am to tackle the blaze which started in a chimney.
Sixteen guests were evacuated from the hotel, parts of which date back to the 17th century, by staff after the fire alarm went off.
Watch commander Roger Williams, of Devon and Somerset Fire Service, said: "The building was evacuated when we got here. The staff had done a superb job in making sure residents were awoken.
"The fire alarm did actuate, so that helped the situation."
Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, a 'suitable and sufficient' fire risk assessment must be conducted on all commercial properties in England and Wales.
If the fire risk assessment is deemed to be carried out to an insufficient extent, the Responsible Person can face an unlimited fine or a prison sentence of up to two years.
No-one was injured in the blaze, the cause of which is currently unknown.
Posted by Ryan Stevens of the FIA
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23 February 2012Chinese Restaurant Owner Fined
The owner of a Chinese takeaway has been fined more than £11,000 for breaching fire safety regulations.
Onn Yan Lai, joint owner of the Kings Chinese takeaway in Thatcham, Berkshire, was fined a total of £11,219 after pleading guilty to…
The owner of a Chinese takeaway has been fined more than £11,000 for breaching fire safety regulations.
Onn Yan Lai, joint owner of the Kings Chinese takeaway in Thatcham, Berkshire, was fined a total of £11,219 after pleading guilty to 12 offences under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 at Reading Magistrates Court on 1st February.
The charges were brought by Royal Berkshire Fire Authority (RBFA) after fire safety officers inspected the restaurant, which was also used as sleeping accommodation by staff, in July 2010.
Among the breaches found during the inspection were a lack of a fire risk assessment, no adequate fire alarm system and inadequate fire protection for and obstruction of escape routes.
David Walden, RBFA's fire safety legal support manager, claimed that some firms still do not see compliance with fire safety legislation as mandatory.
He said: "This financial penalty shows that the courts do not agree. This was a clear refusal to meet statutory requirements to ensure the premises was provided with adequate fire safety measures."
Posted by Paul Clarke of the FIA
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10 February 2012Blaze destroys celebrity chef's kitchen
A fire has gutted a kitchen at River Cottage HQ, the famous home of TV chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall.
The fire broke out around 10.15 pm on Tuesday 7th February in the events barn, which also contains a kitchen for the River…
A fire has gutted a kitchen at River Cottage HQ, the famous home of TV chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall.
The fire broke out around 10.15 pm on Tuesday 7th February in the events barn, which also contains a kitchen for the River Cottage’s cookery school.
Five appliances initially attended the incident, with firefighters requiring a further two to be called for water supply.
The barn contained ten ovens for the cookery school, all of which had their own individual gas cylinders, and two large propane tanks in the building were also involved in the fire.
Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall himself was believed to be out of the country filming for an upcoming television programme.
The fire was brought under control by around 2.00 am, leaving the barn gutted. All cooking courses and events have been cancelled for the foreseeable future.
River Cottage released a statement saying:
“A serious fire severely damaged the main barn at Park Farm, River Cottage HQ late last night in Axminster. Thankfully no people, or animals were hurt.
“The River Cottage team are shocked and upset, and are dealing with the damage today.”
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10 February 2012Landmark trial sees Hotel fined £260K
A London hotel has had to pay more than £260,000 in fines and costs in what is believed to be the first jury trial of a case under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
The Chumleigh Lodge Hotel Limited…
A London hotel has had to pay more than £260,000 in fines and costs in what is believed to be the first jury trial of a case under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
The Chumleigh Lodge Hotel Limited and its sole director, Michael Wilson, had pleaded not guilty to a total of 12 offences under the Fire Safety Order. The trial took place at Blackfriars Crown Court between 28 November and 6 December 2011 and sentencing was on Monday 6 February.
The offences date back to 18 May 2008 when London Fire Brigade was called to a fire at the hotel on Nether Street in Finchley, north London. The blaze had spread quickly from a first floor guest bedroom, up a staircase to the floor above and along a corridor.
Three people escaped from the fire, two by using the stairs and a third by climbing out of a second floor window.
Following the blaze, fire safety inspectors visited the hotel and raised a number of concerns. These included defective fire doors, blocked escape routes and no smoke alarms in some of the hotel’s bedrooms. Mr Wilson was also unable to produce a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment and was found not to have provided staff with adequate fire safety training.
The fine was divided between the individual defendant, Michael Wilson (£180,000) and the corporate defendant, Chumleigh Lodge Hotel Limited (£30,000). The defendants were further ordered to pay prosecution costs of £50,000, and compensation of £2,000 to the guest who escaped through a second floor window.
The company was found guilty of six offences, while Mr Wilson was found guilty of ‘consent or connivance in the commission’ of those same offences:
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Failure to make a suitable and sufficient assessment of risk (article 9)
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Failure to provide staff with adequate safety training (article 21)
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Failure to ensure emergency routes from the premises are kept clear (article 14)
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Failure to adequately equip premises with fire detectors (article 13)
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Two counts of failure to ensure premises, facilities, equipment or devices are maintained in an efficient state, in working order and in good repair (article 17)
“Business owners have a clear responsibility under fire safety law to ensure that both the public and their employees are as safe as possible from the risk of fire,” said Brian Coleman, chairman of London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority. “This verdict sends out a clear message that if these responsibilities are ignored we will not hesitate in prosecuting and people will face serious penalties.”
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10 February 2012Wedding Venue Fined
A wedding venue in Crewe has been fined after it was found to have breached fire safety regulations.
Haslington Hall Ltd, owners of the Grade 1 listed building of the same name, was ordered to pay more than £23,000 after…
A wedding venue in Crewe has been fined after it was found to have breached fire safety regulations.
Haslington Hall Ltd, owners of the Grade 1 listed building of the same name, was ordered to pay more than £23,000 after pleading guilty to nine offences under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 at Chester Magistrates on Monday (30th January).
The 14th century building was temporarily closed in October 2009 after a prohibition notice was served and was subsequently lifted a month later after improvement works were carried out.
However, investigators found that the venue had been used while the notice was still in force and was charged with breaching the notice and the nine breaches of the fire safety act.
The firm was found to have failed to ensure the escape routes and exits could be used quickly and did not adequately train staff on fire safety or carry out a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment.
"This was an extremely serious case of a business putting people's lives at considerable risk from fire," said Lee Shears, community fire protection manager for Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service.
"Fire safety is a key part of good business management and Haslington Hall Ltd showed little or no regard for the safety of their guests or employees."
Posted by Paul Clarke of the FIA
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