Underground Car Park Fire Highlights A Growing Trend
In the early hours of the morning, residents were compelled to evacuate their flats as fire crews responded to a blaze in an underground car park in Nottingham. A few weeks ago, Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service (NFRS) swiftly reacted to reports of a fire erupting in the underground car park of the Litmus Building in Nottingham, prompting a “partial evacuation” of the residential block. The fire, which ignited on the second level of the basement car park, involved two vehicles that were heavily ablaze, as described by fire officer Tom Staples.
NFRS provided an update on the incident via X, stating: “We currently have a number of crews in attendance at a fire on Huntingdon Street, Nottingham.” A spokesperson for NFRS disclosed: “We received the call at 3:27 am. At the peak of the incident, we had approximately eight appliances plus the aerial ladder platform from London Road.” Local media reported residents observing “a lot of” smoke emanating from the basement car park. While no injuries were reported, locals were advised to steer clear of the area as firefighting crews worked diligently to combat the fire, with Nottinghamshire Police implementing road closures surrounding the building.
Nottinghamshire Live mentioned that several residents found refuge in the nearby Salvation Army and at a Nottingham Trent University library. By 7 am, firefighters had successfully extinguished the fire and were collaborating with police officers to ensure residents’ safety as they re-entered the building. NFRS confirmed their continued presence at the scene for “some time.”
Although investigations into the fire’s origin and the types of vehicles involved are pending, the incident underscores several critical factors. Elevated summer temperatures, coupled with diverse fuel sources including electric vehicles and associated charging stations, pose increased risks for underground or mixed-use buildings, both commercial and residential, where vehicles with stored fuel such as petrol and diesel are also present. The danger of fire is increased where vehicles are parked and stored within a multi use location. For a full fire risk assessment, contact the expert team at SS Systems using the contact form below.
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