Housing Association Prosecution Over Fatal Lewisham Fire is a “Wake-Up Call” for Residential Building Owners

A south-east London housing association has been fined £40,000 for their role in the deaths of two tower-block residents in a 2011 fire.

Additional costs of £23,407 were also levied by Woolwich Crown Court after the Lewisham Homes pleaded guilty to failing to properly maintain fire doors and keep their Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order (RSO) risk assessment under review.

More than 100 firefighters were called to a fire in the Marine Tower in Deptford, south-east London in February 2011. The blaze, which was started deliberately in a 16^th floor flat in February 2011, spread quickly to the communal areas of the Deptford tower block and into a neighbouring flat, where two women died.

The London Fire and Rescue Service, which brought the prosecution, found the fire door in the flat where the fire started had been prevented from closing by a metal security door fitted immediately in front, accelerating the spread of smoke to the lobby.

The presiding judge said the prosecution should serve as a “wake-up call” to other individuals and companies responsible for fire-safety in residential buildings. Had the defendant not been a not-for-profit organisation the fine would have been “considerably” higher, the judge added.

Sandra Clarke, the tenant in the flat where the blaze began, was convicted on two counts of manslaughter in 2012 after being found guilty of deliberately starting the fire.

Speaking after sentencing Neil Orbell, LFB’s assistant commission for fire safety, said the fire was a “stark reminder of the potentially lethal consequences” of neglecting fire safety. “I absolutely agree with the judge,” he added.

“This prosecution should act as a ‘wake-up call’ and send an urgent message to all housing providers to ensure the fire safety features in their buildings are properly maintained.

“If they are not, housing providers, managers,  landlords and building owners should all  be warned that we will not hesitate to prosecute if we find they are putting people’s lives at risk.”

A spokesman for Lewisham Homes said: “In 2011 the actions of a tenant led to the deaths of two people and her subsequent conviction, a tragedy that that touched us all and we deeply regret.

“We accept our failings under the fire safety regulations and take residents safety very seriously. We have been determined to learn lessons and invested heavily year on year to continually improve fire safety, and have made significant progress over the past five years.”

Ian Makins, chairman of ASDMA (the Architectural and Specialist Door Manufacturers Association), says the case highlights the importance of properly maintained fire doors.

“Fire doors offer vital protection and can make a real difference to the impact of a fire,” he says. “Sadly when lives are lost due to poorly maintained fire doors it should serve as a timely reminder for landlords and residents to check their fire doors are fit for purpose.

“Door repair, maintenance and replacement should be carried out by a knowledgeable specialist who has the necessary expertise.”

ASDMA has produced a ‘Best Practice Guide to Timber Fire Doors’ for anyone involved in the specification, procurement, installation, use and maintenance of timber fire doors. The guide, which considers all the issues required to satisfy UK Building Regulations, can be downloaded here.