Fire safety

The cost of fire safety measures which councils and housing associations plan to introduce to high-rise buildings after the Grenfell tragedy has now reached at least £600m.

A devastating fire broke out at Grenfell Tower in Latimer Road, near Notting Hill shortly before 1am this morning (Wednesday 14^th June) engulfing the 24 storey block.

In the early hours of Monday morning a devastating fire broke out in the main hotel at Cameron House in Loch Lomond. The Hotel is popular with many and is a popular wedding venue and houses the Michelin-starred Martin Wishart at Loch Lomond restaurant

Bonfire night safety tips. Fireworks are safe if you use them properly. Figures show more children rather than adults get hurt by fireworks. Over the past few years over 350 pre-school children, some only a year old, were treated in hospital for fireworks injuries.

Each year the Fire and Rescue Services attend over 50,000 fire related incidents in dwellings within the UK. Recent statistics show that people living in privately rented accommodation are seven times more likely to fall victim to a fire then those who are owner occupied. Both tenants and the property owner have responsibilities in preventing fire. 

If a fire does break out in your home, chances are you will only have a short amount of time to get you and your family to safety. Remember, if there's a fire - get out, stay out and dial 999.

Christmas is a magical time the house is filled with lights, candles, presents and the lovely Christmas tree. But let us not forget the fire risk that can come with these and the best way to deal with a fire did one break out.

Thousands of fire doors identical to those blamed for helping spread the blaze at Grenfell Tower are still being used in public housing across the UK.

Freedom of Information requests sent to 123 local authorities have found that at least 25,000 doors installed in social housing are among the five types that failed testing carried out following the 2017 tragedy in west London.

A public inquiry into the disaster stated that poorly performing Manse Mastador products contributed to the disaster that killed 72 people. Responses from local councils reveal that the vast majority of the failed doors still in use match those used at Grenfell.

The data reveals a portrait of confusion and chaos at a local level, with councils claiming they have yet to act because of a lack of alternatives – and uncertainty over how to tackle the problem.

Some councils, including Islington, Barking and Dagenham and Manchester councils say they are waiting for explicit government guidance on the issue.

Kensington and Chelsea Council, the borough that includes Grenfell, is among the authorities still using Manse Mastador doors. The local MP, Emma Dent Coad, warned that another disaster is “in the post” and that “warm words won’t save lives”.

Communities Secretary James Brokenshire said his department took “swift and decisive action to investigate the fire doors industry”, and is working with local authorities to “make sure products being used meet the appropriate standard”.

Carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas that has no smell or taste. Breathing it in can make you unwell, and it can kill if you're exposed to high levels.

Every year there are around 25 deaths from accidental carbon monoxide poisoning in England and Wales. After carbon monoxide is breathed in, it enters your bloodstream and mixes with haemoglobin (the part of red blood cells that carry oxygen around your body), to form carboxyhaemoglobin.

Is your fridge a fire risk? I'm sure this was a question you asked when you brought it,  but WHICH have said "Standards are deficient" and that standards due by 2019 should be brought in much faster.