Sectors

Firefighters in Nottinghamshire were called to a dramatic blaze in Worksop after approximately two tonnes of discarded lithium-ion batteries ignited and began exploding. The incident marked the first use of a new firefighting tool designed to improve response to rural fires.

A Derbyshire health club has been issued a fire safety enforcement notice after a chlorine leak earlier this year resulted in several customers being hospitalised. The Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service (DFRS) conducted an inspection of a Health Club and Spa in Long Eaton in January 2025. Following their assessment, a formal enforcement notice was served on 3 February, citing serious shortcomings in the facility’s fire safety measures — including inadequate risk assessments, insufficient emergency routes and exits, and poor staff training.

A devastating fire has gutted a long-standing bicycle shop in Claudy, County Londonderry, causing an estimated £500,000 in stock losses, according to the business owner. Brian Cassidy, owner of Claudy Cycles, spoke about the emotional toll of the incident. “Thirty years of your life, gone in one night, it’s hard to take,” he said. “But I’m determined to rebuild.”