Company ordered to pay £17,000 for fire safety breaches
09/06/2008
P.T.F Properties Limited pleaded guilty to four fire safety breaches and was ordered to pay the fines and costs by West London Magistrates Court at a hearing on 21 May 2008.
On 1 April 2007 a fire started in a first floor flat above a café in King Street, Hammersmith. Eight fire engines and around 40 fire-fighters were needed to tackle the blaze.
Because the fire doors and fire detection system had not been properly maintained within the property, smoke and fire quickly spread and blocked the single means of escape. Four residents were trapped before they could make their escape. Two of the residents were helped to safety across a first floor flat roof by neighbours. Another had to hang and drop from the second floor to the first floor terrace. The fourth resident was rescued by fire-fighters via a ladder. The Hammersmith and Fulham Fire Safety Team found numerous breaches of fire safety regulations following the fire.
P.T.F Properties Limited pleaded guilty to four breaches of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. These were,
- Failing to maintain a fire alarm
- Failing to maintain a fire door
- Two charges of failing to provide a safe means of escape.
P.T.F Properties Limited was fined £11,000 and ordered to pay costs of £6,000.
Assistant Commissioner for Fire Safety Regulation Max Hood said:
"Businesses have to understand that they must take their responsibility for fire safety precautions seriously. If they don't we will use the full force of the law."
