Property director ordered to pay £3,000-plus for fire safety law breaches

On 29 May, McCarthy was successfully prosecuted by the West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service for charges brought to the court under the Fire Safety Order.

Birch Residential Homes Limited is deemed responsible for fire safety management at Kings Court, a purpose-built, four-storey block of flats located in East Grinstead. Crawley Magistrates’ Court heard that Birch Residential Homes – absent for the hearing – had failed to respond to the Fire and Rescue Service’s requests for information following an audit where fire safety issues had been identified.

The issues included no fire risk assessment, inadequate fire safety arrangements, an inadequate fire detection system and unsafe means of escape.

Interim Assistant Chief Fire Officer Dave Bray from the West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service said: “Fire safety regulations are in place for a reason and businesses with legal responsibility for fire safety management must adhere to these laws. We are extremely pleased with the outcome of this case and believe it serves as a strong reminder to any ‘Responsible Persons’ that they must carry out a suitable and sufficient risk assessment of their premises.”

Bray continued: “The court has agreed that we were prevented from ensuring the fire safety standards in this residential building are being managed effectively. We will not allow companies to attempt to hide from their duties when our fire safety regulators identify that compliance with the Fire Safety Order has not been met.”