Company fined as residents trapped

A company has been fined £17000 in fines and costs after a fire in West London in which 4 residents were trapped.PTF Properties Ltd had pleaded guilty to four breaches of The Fire Safety Order 2005.  The failures came to light following a fire in a first floor flat located above the cafe in Hammersmith in April 2007.  Eight fire vehicles and upto 40 firefighters fought the fire.  Because the fire doors and fire detection system had not been maintained correctly in the property the smoke and fire had spread very quickly and had blocked the only means of escape.  Two of the residents were aided to safety across a first floor flat roof by fellow neighbours.  Another resident had to drop from the second floor to a first floor terrace.  The fourth resident was rescued by firefighters by using a ladder. 

In a recent hearing at a West London Magistrates Court PTF Properties Ltd were fined £11000 fine for failing to maintain a fire alarm system, a fire door and also failing to provide a safe means of ecape. The company was also ordered to pay costs of £6000.