29 Aug 2012
Firefighters spent over 12 hours extinguishing a blaze at a warehouse in north-east London in the early hours of Saturday morning.
In total, 15 fire engines were sent to the site on Hookers Road in Walthamstow at 3.37am, with 75 firefighters working hard to bring the blaze under control and stop it spreading to neighbouring properties.
Station manager Peter Curtin described the incident as “particularly challenging” because firefighters had to tackle some very “deep-seated” pockets of fire within the two-storey warehouse.
By 4.18pm the fire had been contained but the building was seriously damaged, and an investigation will now be carried out to try and ascertain the cause of the fire.
All commercial properties in England and Wales are required to carry out a ‘suitable and sufficient’ fire risk assessment under the terms of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
If the risk assessment is not carried out, or is conducted incorrectly, the Responsible Person can face up to two years in jail or an unlimited fine.
Copyright Press Association 2012