May 2009 - A family ran for their lives when their boat exploded. Fire engulfed the 15ft craft when a man turned on the ignition on the River Avon at Eckington, near Tewkesbury. Eye witnesses saw him leap to the bank with his hair on fire, shouting to his children to get away. A woman also had to jump to safety from the stricken vessel. The boat broke its moorings, drifted down river, and set fire to another boat which also went adrift. Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service watch manager Julian Jenkins said: "The man started revving the boat and there was an explosion, fortunately no-one else was in the cabin. "He got out and the boat drifted 100 yards, and set fire to another boat, before carrying on a further 70 yards to nudge up against a bank. "The fire burnt through the second boat's wooden jetty, it broke away and set off following the other boat very slowly. It was like a Viking funeral. "We had some help from a cabin cruiser, which nudged both boats while still on fire towards the fire crews so we could finally attach them with lines and moor them safely. "We believe a fault to the fuel line caused a petrol leak building up fumes in the engine compartment which ignited when the engines started." Eyewitness Kyle Lovegrove, 14, of Davies Road, Evesham, said: "The man's hair caught fire but he put it out with his hands." The family in the first boat are believed to live in Longlevens.
UK, Suspended sentence for East Budleigh man over unsafe storage of fireworks June - AN East Budleigh man has been sentenced to six months imprisonment, suspended for 12 months, after admitting storing fireworks unsafely at his home and a farm building in a case brought by Devon County Council’s Trading Standards Service. Exeter Crown Court heard that the home of Nathan James Donovan in
East Budleigh, was searched by Devon Trading Standards officers accompanied by Police Officers and officers from Devon Fire & Rescue Service, in October 2007, acting on information they had received. They found large boxes of fireworks, some of which were opened, with fireworks being kept around the house he was occupying with his family, including in the living room and in the hallway at the foot of the stairs. The fireworks comprised of 80 rockets and a number of large selection boxes, some in opened transit containers. When the officers subsequently went to farm buildings at Yettington, used by Mr Donovan, they found more boxes unsafely stored in an insecure barn. All of the fireworks were removed in order to make the properties safe. Mr Donovan had pleaded guilty to two charges under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. In addition to the suspended sentence, Mr Donovan, was also ordered to carry out 80 hours community service and told to pay £700 costs. Peter Greene, Operations Manager for Devon County Council’s Trading Standards Service, said: “We were concerned to find fireworks being kept in this way in a domestic family home. The consequences for Mr Donovan, his family and anyone living in neighbouring properties could have been very serious had any of the fireworks been accidentally ignited.” Group Commander Mike White, of Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service, said: “It must be remembered that whilst fireworks are for entertainment they are still explosives. To have fireworks inappropriately stored, particularly in domestic premises, as in this case, could have catastrophic consequences. In a fire, the development would be accelerated, fire loading increased and the burn would be intensified. This would reduce escape time and put the occupants and firefighters at serious risk.” People wanting advice in relation to consumer goods and services can phone Consumer Direct on 08454 040506. Devon County Council Trading Standards Service has a business helpline on 01392 381381. You can also report illegal trading activity to Devon Trading Standards Service, anonymously if you wish, via their confidential
phone line ‘Trading Standards Confidential’ on 01392 381380. For further information contact Peter Greene on 01392 382728 or 07890 540784 (mob). Where people are considering buying fireworks for private use e.g. for anniversaries or other festivals, Devon County Council Trading Standards Service offers the following advice: • Only buy fireworks from reputable traders, never from car boot sales, door-to-door sellers or market stalls. It is illegal to sell fireworks in public places such as these. • Buy them at the latest opportunity so they are stored in your home for as short a period as possible. • Store fireworks in their original packaging inside a substantial container that will help to protect them from sources of ignition and delay the spread of fire, such as a solid wooden or metal container or cabinet. • If there is a possibility of children or animals having access to the fireworks, the storage container or cabinet should be securely locked. • The fireworks must be kept away from any sources of heat or ignition and people smoking. • Do not store fireworks with any other flammable materials, especially things like petrol, oil or paint. • The fireworks must be kept dry. • If you store large quantities of fireworks you must be registered with your local authority.
UK, Blackpool. Petrol Station had corroded pumps A petrol station faced losing its licence after health and safety officers discovered a catalogue of failings. Defects uncovered at the Corton Beach filling station on Central Drive, Blackpool, included "significant corrosion" to the pumps, and delivery nozzles and hoses in a "poor state of repair". And one senior councillor admitted: "I was
APEA tel/fax 0845 603 5507 www.apea.org.uk
13
NEWS
UK, Family flee Tewkesbury boat inferno
