We are holding a 3-day course aimed at fire engineers and fire investigators at the BRE Academy on May 31 2016. The course is being presented by Dr James Quintiere and Mr Robert Schaal and it attracts 22.5 CPD hours with the IFE. Attached is a link to a two-minute YouTube video about the course. Places are limited to the first 30 registrants. Please contact admin@fireinvestigationsuk.com
Author: peter
UK Association of Fire Investigators – Silver Sponsors
FI-UK are proud to have been Silver Sponsors at this year’s 2016 Annual Training Conference of the UK Association of Fire Investigators. With 152 registered delegates including those that had travelled from the Channel Isles, Ireland, Spain, Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Holland, Poland, Estonia, Italy, the USA, Australia as well as across the UK, this was the most ‘International’ conference the UK-AFI have held to date. We look forward to sponsoring the UK-AFI next year on 30-31 January 2017 at the same hotel; the Hotel Russell in central London. The UK-AFI web site and future training can be found at www.uk-afi.org
Fire Incidents involving Solar Power
Project description & how to report incidents
The BRE National Solar Centre (NSC) has been commissioned by the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) to lead a three year study on fires involving solar photovoltaic (PV) systems. The study involves a review of historical incidents, relevant literature, standards and training.
Another important part of the project is to conduct on-site forensic investigations of current incidents, where appropriate. The NSC is partnering with Fire Investigations (UK) LLP for these investigations.
The findings of the project will be used to inform the fire and rescue service, technical standards writers, training companies and the PV industry supply chain via published reports.
As well as DECC, The project is being supported by the Building Regulations and Standards Division of the Department for Communities and Local Government and by the Chief Fire Officers Association.
Please see the following link to the full project details:
New Forensic Fire Investigator Joins Our Team!
FI-UK welcome Mike Burroughs, who served for over 30 years with the Devon & Somerset Fire and Rescue Service. Mike is well known for his meticulous research capabilities which will compliment our very experienced team, now totalling approximately 320 years ‘fire and/or criminal justice’ experience between us all!!
Leeds University Fire and Explosion Investigation Course
FI-UK and BRE Global have supported Dr Roth Phylaktou and Professor Gordon Andrews at this year’s ‘Fire and Explosion Investigation Course’ at Leeds University with our own Dr Peter Mansi and James Acott, along with BRE’s Richard Chitty. FI-UK and BRE Global believe in actively sharing their knowledge and experiences, by using our competent practicing forensic fire investigators, with fire and explosion investigation students whenever possible and in doing so, supporting new and emerging professionals in our fire investigation discipline.
Mr Kim Yates – RIP
It is with tremendous sadness that I have to report our friend, colleague, FI Global Associate and IAAI President of the IAAI-Africa Chapter Mr Kim Yates was tragically killed with his wife and best friend Ingrid in a motorcycle accident in South Africa. Our thoughts go out to his other best friend and business partner Andre de Beer and Kim’s family and friends. We are all devastated.
ISO 9001:2008 Inspection 2015 – Another Successful year!
FI-UK passed the 4th ISO 9001 inspection by BSI today with very positive comments from the Inspector. Maintaining excellent background organisational structures to support our every growing client base to provide outstanding service delivery. We have already booked in next year’s appointment and aim to maintain these high standards.
International Sustainability Alliance
A delve into the archives, but good to see the positivity expressed in an article on the International Sustainability Alliance web site over three years ago fulfilling itself into reality. A truly formidable partnership! Onwards and upwards FI-UK and BRE
https://www.internationalsustainabilityalliance.org/newsdetails-bre.jsp?id=796
IAAI ITC – Chicago May 2015!
Another fantastic International Training Conference was held by the IAAI – ‘Global Leaders in Fire Investigation’. Representing the UK Association of Fire Investigators (UK AFI), the IAAI’s 67th Chapter, were FI-UK’s Dr Peter Mansi (UK AFI Past President), John Galvin (UK AFI President), Claire Mansi (UK AFI Director of Administration) and Chris Clarke (UK AFI Director of the Board) and Hawkins very own Dr Nick Carey (UK AFI 1st Vice President). Visit www.firearson.com for further information. Congratulations from the UK go to the new President, Mr Dan Heenan of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
IAAI Presidential Year comes to an end
FI-UK Partner, Dr Peter Mansi, will hand over the reigns of the IAAI Presidency to Dan Heenan, Senior Special Agent with the ATF, (US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives) in Chicago on Tuesday 19 May 2015. Peter has visited and presented at 16 IAAI Chapter events in the USA, Africa, Finland, Ireland and of course, the UK and also represented the IAAI in Dubai, Germany and Denmark. He stated ‘The best part of my Presidency was meeting our IAAI members from around the world’.
Fire Investigations (UK) LLP ISO 9001 Inspection – 100% pass!
FI-UK have again been successful in our second yearly assessment of our ISO 9001 certification.
The Assessor stated that: ‘all areas assessed were found to be effective. FI-UK was described as a ‘professional practice utilising new technology with tight controls and no areas of concern were identified.
BBC Watch Dog and FI-UK ‘Team Up’ at BRE
BBC Watch Dog’s ‘Hazard House’ teamed up with Fire Investigations UK and BRE during Series 10 to inform the public about dangers relating to dishwashers. You can see the complete episode at
https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b03ycqxm/Watchdog_Test_House_Episode_10/ Other episodes of this excellent series can also be seen on BBC iPlayer.
BRE’s superb facilities at Garston, Hertfordshire can also be seen. You will see why you should engage FI-UK to conduct your fire investigations!
OAP flees house after hot wheat bag bursts into flames
FIRE chiefs have warned of the potential dangers of wheat bags after an elderly woman escaped from a house fire sparked when the bag she was using to keep warm burst into flames. The 80-year-old called Humberside Fire And Rescue Service to her Cleethorpes home at 2.30 am yesterday after smoke billowing from the bag set off her fire alarm and woke her up.
First Irish case of death by spontaneous combustion
A man who burned to death in his home died as a result of spontaneous combustion, an Irish coroner has ruled.
It is believed to be the first case of its kind in Ireland.
West Galway coroner Dr Ciaran McLoughlin said it was the first time in 25 years of investigating deaths that he had returned such a verdict.
Michael Flaherty , 76, died at his home at Clareview Park, Ballybane, Galway on 22 December 2010.
An inquest in Galway on Thursday heard how investigators were baffled as to how he had died.
Forensic experts found that a fire in the fireplace of the sitting room where the badly-burnt body was found was not the cause of the blaze that killed Mr Faherty.
The court was told that no trace of an accelerant had been found and there was nothing to suggest foul play.
The court heard that Mr Faherty was found lying on his back with his head closest to an open fireplace.
The fire had been confined to the sitting room. The only damage was to the body, which had been totally burnt, the ceiling above him and the floor underneath him.
Dr McLoughlin said he had consulted medical textbooks and carried out other research in an attempt to find an explanation.
He said Professor Bernard Knight, in his book on forensic pathology, had written about spontaneous combustion and noted that such reported cases were almost always near an open fireplace or chimney.
“This fire was thoroughly investigated and I’m left with the conclusion that this fits into the category of spontaneous human combustion, for which there is no adequate explanation,” he said
Failed fire project wasted £469m, says committee of MPs
A project to set up nine regional control centres for fire and rescue services in England was a “complete failure” and wasted £469m, MPs say.
The public accounts committee said the Fire control scheme had not achieved any of its objectives and that eight of the centres were empty “white elephants”.
The plan to replace 46 smaller control rooms was scrapped in December 2010.
Fire Minister Bob Neill said Labour must be held accountable for the “comprehensive failure”.
Margaret Hodge, who chairs the MPs’ committee, said the project had been “flawed from the outset” and one of the worst wastes of public money for many years.
“The taxpayer has lost nearly half a billion pounds and eight of the completed regional control centres remain as empty and costly white elephants.”
She said the project – launched in 2004 by the Labour government – had been terminated in 2010 “with none of the original objectives achieved and a minimum of £469m being wasted”.
Link https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-14974552
Firefighters tackle Basingstoke construction site fire
More than 100 firefighters and 12 specialist support vehicles have been tackling a major fire which broke out at a building site in Hampshire.
At its height the timber-framed block of flats on Gershwin Road, Basingstoke, was “in danger of total collapse”, a fire service spokesman said.
Crews from Hampshire, Surrey and Berkshire were involved and six people had to be moved from their homes.
An investigation into the cause of the blaze will start later.
The spokesman said the building, 100 metres (328ft) by 200 (656ft), was well alight when crews arrived shortly before 1830 on Friday.
Burning wooden embers from the building and the prevailing wind conditions put a number of other properties in the area at risk, including a nearby community college.
Firefighters ‘at risk’
Eyewitness Debbie Bennett said she came out of supermarket in the area and saw people looking into the sky.
“I saw that smoke had blotted out the sun. There were flames high above the trees.
“Debris which was on fire soon started raining down on the onlookers and houses nearby, apparently the debris spread on the wind and fell in the town centre.”
One police officer said about 60 flats in varying states of construction were on fire at the height of the blaze.
Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service chief officer John Bonney, current President of the Chief Fire Officers Association, attended the scene and issued a warning about the danger of timber framed buildings.
“When these buildings catch fire the actual structure burns. It often leads to total collapse and that puts the safety of our firefighters at risk.”
He added that fire spread was a major concern at the incident, and that the Chief Fire Officers Association “was right to be increasingly concerned about the number and severity of fires in timber framed buildings under construction”
Manchester house fire: Family of four critically ill after suspected arson
A man killed in a house fire that left a woman and her three children critically injured may have set himself alight, police said on Tuesday, as the Independent Police Complaints Commission was brought in to investigate.
David Potts, 39, was found with serious burns during a blaze at Barlow Road, Broadheath, Altrincham, in the early hours of Monday morning. He died later in hospital. Police said they were investigating the possibility that he set fire to himself.
The matter was voluntarily referred to the IPCC, as officers had previously had some contact with the family.
Tracy Jones, 40, and her two sons, Zak, four, and Shaun, 15, and her 18-year-old daughter, Cailin, remain in a critical condition in hospital.
Jones and her older children managed to escape the house before the arrival of firefighters, who broke down the front door and rescued Zak from an upstairs bedroom. They found Potts badly burned and unconscious in the downstairs lounge. He was taken to hospital, where he died.
Officers from Greater Manchester police’s professional standards unit have launched an internal investigation.
The IPCC said: “We have been advised by Greater Manchester police that we will be receiving a referral from them in connection to this incident. Once we receive the referral we will assess the evidence to determine our level of involvement.”
Chief Superintendent Mark Roberts, divisional commander for Trafford, said: “A dedicated team of detectives is working closely with the fire service to establish how this fire started. There is speculation in the media that David [went] to the house and started the fire. While this is clearly a line of inquiry we are investigating, until we have established the exact circumstances surrounding the fire, it would not be appropriate for us to speculate further. However, at this time, we are not looking for anyone further in relation to this incident.
“This is an extremely serious and tragic case, which has left one person dead and four others critically injured. Our thoughts are with the families of all of those involved.
“We are asking for people in the local community to come forward and speak to police if they have any information that may help us with our investigation.”
Denise Moulson, a neighbour, told the Manchester Evening News there had been shouting before the blaze. “My neighbour said there was a lot of arguing, screaming and then the kitchen window blew out. She said she heard Tracy say: ‘Stop it Dave, just go now’. Other neighbours heard them screaming, ‘Help, I am on fire!’
“It is so sad. They are a lovely family, very quiet, always said hello. We saw Tracy, Sean and Cailin on the grass at the front of the house, they were in shock and a lot of pain.”
Jones, who regularly attended King’s Way church, in Sale, had moved back to the UK from South Africa.