The deaths of two fire fighters at a 15-floor tower block in southern England, has sent shockwaves through the fire community and raised further concerns over risk management in high-rise residential buildings in the UK.
The full-time fire fighters at died of exposure to excessive heat at one of Southampton’s tallest tower blocks, on 6th April 2010.
The two men were discovered on the ninth floor of the building, having entered to tackle the blaze, which started shortly after 8pm. One of them was pronounced dead at the scene, while the other died in hospital. Two other fire fighters suffered minor burns to their hands.
The incident saw a total of 20 fire appliances and supporting vehicles mobilised by Hampshire Fire and Rescue. A ‘stay-in-place’ strategy was initially adopted, with residents told to stay in their flats and await instructions, but the service subsequently evacuated all residents safely.
An investigation is continuing into the cause of the fire, but the couple who lived in the flat of fire origin said it started when a curtain that was left draped over a light caught fire. They tried unsuccessfully to put out the fire, and were forced to leave the flat because it was spreading rapidly.
The police and fire service, as well as the Health and Safety Executive, are investigating the deaths, with the fire service response due to be heavily scrutinised.
Southampton City Council said the fire risk assessment of the building was reviewed in August 2009, and that further checks were made after six people died in a fire at a tower block in south London last July.
The council defended its stay-in-place strategy after some residents complained that they were told to stay in their flats above the blaze. ‘All flats in the block are fitted with fire doors and the building itself is made of concrete, so residents will be safe within their properties until the emergency services arrive,’ it said.
Nevertheless, following the deaths of two fire fighters at another tower block in Hertfordshire in 2005 and the resident fatalities at the South London blaze last year, the incident looks set to prompt further debate within the UK fire community over risk management and fire service operational procedures for residential tower blocks.
The Chief Fire Officers’ Association pledged to ensure that lesions learned from the incident are shared across UK fire services and with other industry groups.