Converted Church Blaze Leads To Prosecution & Major Fines
A devastating fire in a converted church in Preston, which had been repurposed to house students and residents, has resulted in significant legal repercussions due to severe fire safety breaches. The incident exposed major failings and has led to prosecutions and heavy financial penalties for those responsible.
The fire broke out in the early hours of 9 January 2020 in the kitchen of a self-contained flat on the ground floor. The building comprised ten general needs flats and a 13-bed House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) on the first floor, primarily occupied by students. As the blaze spread rapidly, tenants attempted to activate manual call points and relied on smoke detectors in escape routes, yet the automatic fire alarm system failed to provide any audible warning.
Thanks to the quick actions of the occupants, who manually alerted and evacuated each other, a major tragedy was narrowly avoided. A subsequent investigation by Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service uncovered a catalogue of serious fire safety violations. These included a non-functional fire alarm system, substandard fire doors, inadequate compartmentation, lack of proper fire safety management, and the complete absence of a fire risk assessment.
As a result, the owning company was fined £60,000 plus costs, and its director was personally fined £17,000 plus costs, following sentencing at Preston Crown Court. The case highlights the critical importance of fire safety compliance and serves as a warning to all property owners and managers about their legal responsibilities.
Guilty Pleas and Charges
On 19 May this year, both company and director admitted to breaching the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. The charges were as follows:
- Company Fine – Breach of Article 8 – Article 8 of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 places a duty on the “responsible person” to take general fire precautions to ensure the safety of employees and relevant non-employees. This includes implementing measures to minimize fire risks and ensure a safe environment.
- Company Director Fine – Breaches of Articles 8 and 9 – Article 9 of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 in the UK mandates that the “responsible person” must conduct a fire risk assessment. This assessment involves identifying fire hazards, evaluating risks to relevant individuals, and determining the necessary general fire precautions. The assessment must be recorded, and reviewed regularly, especially after significant changes to the premises or its use.
Area Manager Matthew Hamer, head of prevention and protection at Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service stated that this case highlights the critical importance of robust fire safety measures and the legal responsibilities of property owners and managers to ensure the safety of occupants. “The absence of a functioning alarm system and other critical protections placed lives at risk. We welcome Preston Crown Court’s recognition of the seriousness of these breaches and hope this serves as a clear message to all property owners and managers about their legal and moral responsibilities.”
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