Trial opens for firefighters killed tackling warehouse fire
The trial has opened into the death of 4 firefighters who died in a warehouse fire. Prosecutors believe the men were sent into a highly dangerous situation for no good reason.
Warwickshire firemen Ashley Stephens, Darren Yates-Badley, John Averis and Ian Reid died when tackling a fire at a storage compartment containing cardboard boxes and old furniture.
Prosecutor, Mr Matthews told the jury: “It’s only about the needless loss of four lives, four individuals, lost as a result of having been sent into a situation where no one was in peril. Sent into what was and should have been recognised as an obviously dangerous situation, for no good reason.”
It is reported that water sprinklers in the warehouse had not been connected at the time of the fire.
The trial will last around 10 weeks.
Blaze destroys Leicestershire businesses
Fire fighters in and around Leicestershire battled to contain 2 large fires that broke out in factories over the weekend.
Five business units in Frisby Road in Leicester were severely damaged in a fire, and on the same evening, another fire broke out at the Corah’s building in St John Street, off Burley’s Way.
Crews from around the county attended the fires which caused hundreds of thousands of pounds of damage.
Altaf Master owns AN Fashion which is based just two doors from one of the destroyed buildings in Frisby Road. He said: “I have never seen anything like this. Someone said there was a fire so I sent someone to look outside. They came running up the stairs and shouted that we had to get everyone out immediately. We got the staff out in a few minutes. I stood outside and watched as the flames grew. All I can explain it as is huge fireballs being thrown out of the building into the street.”
Ramesh Chaunhan, who also owns business nearby said: “It spread so very fast. I have never seen anything like this. I was just praying that it did not spread to my factory. I was supposed to go on holiday tomorrow. The holiday is cancelled, but I suppose I feel lucky.”
The fire was extinguished by Saturday night, but firefighters remained on the scene dampening down.
Firefighters also attended a large fire at the Corah’s building near St Margaret’s bus station.
The fire caused thick smoke to spread across the area. Residents were urged to stay indoors and keep windows shut.
Firefighters were still at the scene on Sunday damping down.
There were no injuries reported in either incident. An investigation into the cause of the fires will be carried out by police and the fire service.
Radio mast arson attack
Two radio stations have had their services severely disrupted after a fire was started at a Bristol aerial mast.
Firefighters believe the blaze at East Dundry Lane was started deliberately.
BBC Radio Bristol’s 94.9 FM and Jack FM’s 106.5 FM were affected in the incident.
A spokesman for mast owner Arqiva said: “Five other communications services which use the tower have also been affected. The structure itself has been declared safe and technical teams are on site to effect repairs as soon as possible. Our hope is to get services restored by early evening.”
Avon Fire and Rescue Service said: “The damage was confined to the base of the mast but as there was evidence the fire was deliberate, police were called.”
An investigation into the cause of the fire will be carried out.
Rioter sentenced to 11 years for starting furniture store fire
The man accused of starting the fire which destroyed Reeves furniture store in the August riots has been jailed for 11 ½ years.
Gordon Thompson admitted starting the blaze that destroyed the 140 year old shop in Croydon, south London.
The blaze cost over £3 million and caused significant danger to residents and firefighters.
Thompson started the fire by setting fire to a cushion in the store. Shortly after he was heard boasting about what he had done.
Thompson admitted arson and also three charges of burglary for which he got concurrent lesser terms.
Judge Peter Thornton told him: “This day was a bad day for Croydon and the people of Croydon. Perhaps the most shocking event was that the House of Reeves was set alight and burned to the ground, putting lives at risk. This is, was, a landmark store, a furniture store of the Reeves family business which had stood on the site for over 140 years, proudly giving its name to its location, Reeves Corner. You were about to bring all that to an end. This was a deliberate, wilful act of shocking, dangerous vandalism.” The judge said the Reeves family’s loss was priceless. “The trauma they have suffered is inestimable.”
Many people were left traumatised by the incident. Many had to escape from the fire with young children.
It is now evident that Thompson has 20 previous convictions, including one for violent robbery.
Baby product business destroyed in fire
45 firefighters attended a huge fire which ripped through buildings at a Granby Industrial Estate on 5th April.
Baby & Me and JMK Auto Repairs were both damaged in the fire. It is thought that the fire started at Baby and Me UK which sells prams, cots, car seats and baby products.
A spokesperson for Baby and Me said: “It all feels like a bad dream, but we have just got to keep going. Business was booming and internet sales were going really well. We were hoping to open a shop in Weymouth soon. We’ve lost everything. All these piles of stuff were thousands of pounds worth of stock which was only delivered on Thursday morning. It’s going to take some time to build it back up again. We will have to start again somewhere else. I am grateful for everybody’s help and to the fire service for getting it under control. We don’t know how it started at the moment.”
Luke Bennett, owner of JMK Auto Repairs said that he hoped to be running normally again very soon. He said: “I was outside looking at someone’s car when he suddenly said: ‘Look at all that smoke. That’s when I turned and saw it. Our place is okay and we are hoping to start work again on Tuesday. The workshop has not been too badly damaged and from what I can see we should be okay to work next week.”
Mr Bennett added: “We still don’t know why it happened. I don’t know what they’ll do with next door, whether they’ll pull it down or what. We’ve just got a bit of tidying up to do today, but we want customers to know we will be opening.”
Craig Baker from Dorset Fire and Rescue Service’s group manager said: “An investigation has begun into the cause of this fire. This was a very severe fire, which crews managed to get under control by 6.40pm, although they will be remaining on scene for some time yet dampening down.”
Fire crews remained on the scene until Friday afternoon dampening down the area. An investigation in to the cause of the fire will be carried out.
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 states that you:
‘must make a suitable and sufficient assessment of the risks to which relevant persons are exposed’
This means that all companies as a first point in their Fire Safety must complete a Fire Risk Assessment. This must be carried out by a competent person, who is trained to perform risk assessments.