West Yorkshire fire service warns of £20,000 fine
West Yorkshire firefighters are warning potential arsonists that if they start grass fires they could be faced with a £20,000 fine.
West Yorkshire Firefighters have been called to 40 moorland wildfires so far this year.
In 2011, firefighters had to tackle a deliberately-started fire on Baildon Moor in March, which caused significant damage to an area used by ground-nesting birds such as curlew, lapwings and skylarks.
In another incident, 50 acres of Grassington Moor was destroyed by fire as controlled burning was fanned by winds.
The fire service has warned that anyone found to have started a fire deliberately on a Site of Special Scientific Interest could face a fine of up to £20,000.
Station Commander Robin Ward, said: “Moorland fires are notoriously difficult to tackle because they are often in inaccessible locations, where there is little or no water supply. They burn quickly and ferociously and, when driven by strong winds, can be unpredictable and dangerous for firefighters. These fires can cause damage to the land and they can wipe out wildlife.”
British shopping mall manager detained after 13 children die in Qatari fire
A British man has been detained by police in connection with a huge fire that killed 13 children in a Qatari mall last week.
Tzoulios Tzouliou, is the British manager of the Villaggio Mall in Doha. The fire killed all the toddlers in the Gympanzee Nursery and their four teachers. Two firefighters also died in the fire.
Mr Tzouliou is undergoing questioning about fire safety measures and evacuation plans and procedure in the shopping mall.
It is thought that security guards told shoppers that had been alerted by fire alarms that it was safe to return as flames tore through the building.
It is also reported that Firefighters were not immediately told about the first floor nursery.
Five others have been detained by police in relation to the incident. These include Iman al Kuwari, the Qatari owner of Gympanzee, and Rima Itani, Mr Tzouliou’s assistant manager.
Doha police said that Mr Tzouliou was not under arrest but was being “detained”.
3 people die in Melbourne house fire
A huge fire has destroyed a home and left at least 3 people dead in Melbourne, Australia.
25 firefighters tackled the fire on Main Road, Clayton West at around 12.50am, on 1st June.
A spokesperson for Victoria Police said: “Detectives believe that four people usually reside in the home and they are yet to be accounted for.”
It is thought that a mother in her 30s and her two boys, aged five and nine died in the fire although this has not yet been confirmed.
Several neighbours tried desperately to break into the property to rescue the mother and children.
A spokesman from the Metropolitan Fire Brigade said that the roof almost collapsed before the fire was brought under control. He added: “An MFB fire Investigator is in attendance along with police personnel. Firefighters will be in attendance for some hours assisting to determine a cause.”
An arson and explosive squad detective will be visiting the scene to determine how the fire was started.