A discount retail chain has pleaded guilty to five breaches of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
Opus Homewares Ltd was fined £7,500 and ordered to pay £4,000 costs at Hartlepool Magistrates Court on 14 December, following a fire at its B&M store at Highlight retail park in Hartlepool.
The offences came to light following a fire at the store on 30 September 2009. They included a failure to provide and maintain a suitable means of escape and failure to provide general fire precautions.
Barry Waller, head of fire engineering for Cleveland Fire Brigade, said: “The fire broke out at the front of the store and, after the fire was extinguished by responding fire crews, it was found that several exits were unavailable or obstructed. The circumstances found at the time of the incident were such that they seriously compromised the safety of the occupants and that is not something the fire brigade can, or will, condone.”
In a statement Opus Homewares said it regretted the incident and has since worked with Hartlepool fire service to rectify matters.
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