NEWS
FIRE SAFETY ADVICE / NEWS
19 Aug 2011
Residents of a care home in Chorleywood were evacuated after a fire broke out in one pensioner's bedroom.
According to the Watford Observer, firefighters were called to Burford House before midnight on Thursday August 18th, after an elderly man accidentally knocked over a lamp, which set a pair of curtains alight.
Watch commander Neil Nash told the news provider: "Some staff were in the room at the time and tried to put it out with fire extinguishers, but they were beaten back by the flames.
"It was on the ground floor so we put a hose through the window to put it out. There was a lot of smoke damage to the room."
For owners of care homes, carrying out a full fire risk assessment is crucial.
Part of this should entail informing all staff and those in care, where it is appropriate, about various fire risks and what to do in the event of a fire.
You must also tell employees about any measures you have put in place to avert the risk of fire and how these measures protect them, under the terms of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
28 Jun 2011
Residents were evacuated from a nursing home in a village in Oxfordshire on Saturday (June 25th), after a fire broke out in the establishment.
Old Prebendal House care home, located in Shipton-under-Wychwood, went up in flames shortly before 5am, when Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service were called to the scene, reports the Oxford Mail.
The firefighters had to use breathing equipment to battle the blaze - apparently caused by a broken extractor fan - in the smoke-logged rooms.
Steve Holland, the incident commander and watch manager, praised the work of the firefighters.
"Fire crews acted swiftly and were able to prevent the fire developing, with damage being restricted to a bathroom and lounge," he said.
"This incident again highlights the dangers of fire and the importance of having working smoke alarms."
A suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment must be conducted on all sleeping accommodation in England and Wales, under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
If the fire risk assessment is not carried out to a suitable extent, the Responsible Person can face two years in prison or an unlimited fine.
