Harrow Court, Stevenage2nd Feb 2005

Ff Jeffery Wornham Ff Michael Miller

All information passed in this presentation is an accumulation of research carried out by myself. It is a conglomeration of data from the formal Inquiry/Inquest and personal accounts / conversations of those attending. It passes no judgement on those dealing with the incident

and recognises and applauds the courage and bravery of all those that attended.

M Fishlock

Location (2 mins)

Building

Normal “H” pattern residential tower block. System build - Concrete

Building

18 Story, 103 Flats. Low Socio-economic population

Background

One of a set of 2 Twin blocks Built in late 60’s

Regular calls to AFA call point. Rubbish/Rubbish chutes alight.No serious fires in last 10 yearsNot special risks. Not on 11(D) / 7.2(D)Dry riser (4”) to all floors2 Lift shafts (single carriage)

Floor plan

INCIDENT

• 02:58 FIRST 999 Fire on 15th Floor, Flat 89

• 03:00 MOB 2 Pumps from Stevenage to Persons Reported

• 03:00 Manual CP activated

• 3:02 Pumps book MI

• 3:03 IA Crews see smoke issuing

• 3:03 T/LFF Antrobos is met by other building occupants and confirm fire is actually in F85 on 14th Floor

• 3:04 LFF Scotchford instructs T/LFF A and crew (Ff Miller, Wornham) “Hang on and Do not go up!” But they proceed up and LFf S radios them to tell him what’s happening. FF Dudly expresses concerns that they have gone up.

• FF Dudly, FF Dredge, FF Boswell form second crew and collect equipment ready in lift lobby

• FF Wornham (now in the lift ) has forgotten his helmet and uses T/Lff A’s

• Witness statements confirm that FF Dudly was complaining that the crews should have waited in the lobby

• 3:05 light smoke observed from top of door to F85

• BA Crew commits (no EC procedure no Water )• T/LFF A sets in hose from DR but its chained &

Padlocked. She orders it charged and asks for bolt croppers.

• Screaming (Male) is heard from flat 85• 3:06 BA Crew commit & rescue Mr Savage from

F85 they are told his Girlfriend is still in the flat

Approx 3:07 from CCTV

• 3:07 External signs of rapid fire smoke development. MP4

• 3:08 second BA crew meet with TLff/A by DR outlet. DR is charged but still chained shut.

• Lifts are being affected by smoke• 3:09 TLFF A States that she declares a “BA

EMERGENCY” not received or acknowledged• LFF S arrives at 14th floor and 2nd BA crew

commits into a “Serious fire”• 3:12 2nd BA crew withdraw after one loses his

helmet.• FF Wornham is believed to leave the flat and

becomes entangled in cables in lobby.

• 3:13 14 th floor lobbies smoke logged

• 3:15 T/LLF A Meets DO Drakes in lift lobby, tells him she’s declared a BA Emergency.

• 3:17 BA Crew 2 have recommitted and are trying to recue FF W but beaten back by heat (they still have no water)

• 3:20 MP8 BA Emergency message sent

• 3:23 4 ba wearers drag FF W into stairwell lobby (still entangled)

• 3:25 using personal knifes and axe, cables are freed from FF W

• Hose line from 13th floor extended into flat 85, Fire described as “like a jet engine” by BA teams

• 3:30 BA teams discover FF M and female occupant in Bedroom2 Both Obviously deceased and bodies are left in situ.3:30 Fire spread to 15th floor

• 3:46 FFW taken out of building on stretcher

• 3:50 MSG: “1 FF & 1Female believed dead MP10”

• 4:01 MSG “2 civilians dead, left in situ”

• 4:05 ACO books IA

• 4:49 ACO MSG “ 1 FF and 2 civilians fatal”

• 6:00 ACO MSG “” fire-fighters and 1 Female civilian confirmed fatal. 1 FF in hospital suffering burns, 70 persons lead to safety, all persons accounted for”

• 7:08 stop.

• Cause: TEALIGHT candles on TV set

• 14th Feb 2003 BRE researched and recreated the fire

• 180c to 800c flashover developed 60 seconds after opening the recreated bedroom.

• 83 recommendations from enquiry

Recommended reading

• HFRS Investigation

• FBU Response to Investigation

• Euro fighter (Paul Grimwood)

THANKS

• KFRS• Thames Gateway Regional forum (High Rise)• HFRS• FBU• BRE• Martin Arrowsmith (Welwyn Garden City. HFRS)• Paul Grimwood (expert witness at Coroners inquest)• LFB High Rise Working group

ANY QUESTIONS?