A Ripon-based construction firm has been fined nearly £50,000 after one of its worker suffered multiple burns.
Walden Builders Ltd was in the process of demolishing an outbuilding on September 18, 2018 when an excavator struck a wall containing a 415v cable.
The contact with the digger caused it to arc and a fire soon broke out. Workers then used a sheet of tin to try and contain the blaze.
However the tin soon heated up and dropped onto one of the workers, causing burns to their scalp, arm and hands.
Read more:
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigated and found that the company failed to act on a quote from Northern Power Grid to terminate supply to the building.
Leeds Magistrates Court last week fined Walden Builders Ltd £42,000 and ordered the company to pay £4,707 in costs.
HSE inspector Paul Thompson said after the hearing:
Four fire crews battle North Rigton blaze“The company should have ensured that there was no live power to the building prior to the start of demolition work.
“The company had failed to prepare a written plan for the demolition of the building or any site-specific risk assessments.
“This incident could so easily have been avoided by simply carrying out correct control measures and safe working practices.”
Four Harrogate district fire crews battled a blaze in an outbuilding in North Rigton this morning.
North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service firefighters were at the scene for three hours after being summoned at 6.26am.
Two crews from Harrogate, one from Knaresborough, one from Ripon fought the fire with the aid of a Boroughbridge water bowser, which is a large water tank on wheels.
North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service told the Stray Ferret at 12.40pm that a fire investigation officer remained at the scene to identify the cause of the blaze.
The 10 metre x five metre outbuilding is next to a property on High Moor Road, driving towards Beckwithshaw.
Read more:
- Fire service urges residents to have their chimney cleaned after an increase in chimney fires.
- Fire crews attend fire in Langthorpe after dog bed overheats in microwave.
‘Clean your chimneys’, urges fire service after two fires near Ripon yesterday
North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue has warned of the dangers of not checking chimneys after its crews attended two chimney fires in villages close to Ripon within hours yesterday.
Ripon firefighters were called to Sawley just before 3.30pm yesterday and then to Marton-le-Moor shortly after 6.30pm.
The Marton-le-Moor fire was caused by a beehive blocking smoke in the chimney. The cause of the fire in Sawley is unknown.
A North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said they had heard of birds nests causing fires in chimneys but never beehives.
Both fires were confined to the chimneys and left no external damage.
Read more:
- Fire crews attended a fire in Langthorpe after a dog bed was put in a microwave.
- Senior police officer says public fear needs to return to curb infection rates.
The homeowners were advised to get their chimneys checked following the incidents in case the heat damaged the chimney stacks.
The spokesperson urged residents to clean their chimneys regularly to clear obstructions, such as nests and leaves and to remove the build-up of soot.
It said chimneys for smokeless fuels should be swept once a year; chimneys for fires that burn wood and bituminous coal should be swept twice a year.
Fire crews called to Langthorpe after dog bed warmer overheatsFire crews were called to Langthorpe last night after a dog bed warmer was left in a microwave for too long.
North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service said two crews attended the incident at the village near Boroughbridge at about 10.30pm last night.
The incident filled the kitchen with smoke, making it difficult for the crew to pinpoint the source. A thermal imaging camera was used to overcome this problem.
North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service said in a statement the microwave had overheated because the dog bed warmer had been left in the microwave for too long.
No details of the extent of the damage were given although it is believed to be purely smoke-related.
The crews ventilated the kitchen before leaving the address in the evening.
Read more:
- A barn fire in Knaresborough this week is thought to have been started deliberately.
- Plastic toaster placed in oven causes fire in Harrogate.
Barn fire in Knaresborough thought to be deliberate
A fire that destroyed a barn in Knaresborough in the early hours of the morning is thought to have been started deliberately.
North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service said crews attended the incident on York Road at 1.19am and used two main jets.
It added the derelict building suffered ‘100% damage’ and the cause is believed to be deliberate.
One eyewitness from Knaresborough, who asked not to be named, told the Stray Ferret he saw the building on fire and then watched three males running from The Chase onto Manse Lane. Multiple fire engines attended the scene.
The witness added he reported the men to police who “arrived in minutes” and spoke to them. He added the police later told him the men had a ‘viable excuse’.
The barn is believed to have been vacant for a considerable period of time. It is also thought a nearby building had previously been burnt down deliberately.
The Stray Ferret asked North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service and North Yorkshire Police for further details about the incident but neither had replied at the time of publication.
Read more:
- House fire in Harrogate caused after a plastic toaster was placed inside an oven.
- Fire at a much-loved pub in Coneythorpe left locals devastated.
Plastic toaster put in oven causes house fire in Harrogate
Firefighters using breathing apparatus were called to an oven fire in Harrogate early this morning when a plastic toaster was put inside an oven.
The toaster caught fire and two women who were in the house at the time received precautionary check-ups from paramedics at the scene.
Two fire crews from Harrogate and one from Knaresborough were called to the incident on Otley Road at 2.36am.
Read more:
- Crews tackle outbuilding fire in central Harrogate
- Villagers left devastated after fire at Coneythorpe pub
North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service’s incident log said the women were in their early 20s but did not name them.
The log said smoke detectors were fitted at the property, adding:
“The cause is believed to be careless use of a heat source. Crews used two breathing apparatus and one hose reel.”
Crews called to blaze at Coneythorpe pubFire crews from across North Yorkshire were called to a fire at a pub in Coneythorpe yesterday.
North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue were called to the incident at the Tiger Inn at 5.04pm.
Crews from Knaresborough, Harrogate, Acomb and appliances from Wetherby and Moortown were called out to the fire.
Read more:
- James Street social distancing cones to be replaced with planters
- Emergency sewer work to close road in centre of Ripon
- Government awards North Yorkshire £1 million for walking and cycling
Firefighters used an aerial ladder platform, main jets, breathing apparatus and hose reels to tackle the fire.
North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue will investigate the cause today (November 14).
If you witnessed the fire please get in touch at contact@thestrayferret.couk
Crews tackle outbuilding fire in central HarrogateFire crews were called out to a derelict building in the centre of Harrogate today.
It happened at a house at the junction of Strawberry Dale and Woodbine Terrace.
The fire was reported to North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service at 4.50pm. They found it in an outbuilding which contained rubbish, though the cause was not identified.
Firefighters from Harrogate and Knaresborough put it out using a hose, and used breathing apparatus for comfort while on site.
Drop in number of deliberate fires across Harrogate districtThe number of deliberate fires started across the Harrogate district has halved this summer compared to the same time last year.
Data from North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service has revealed there were 17 deliberate fires during June, July and August this year, down 50% from last year’s 35 recorded incidents.
However, the fire service has urged people to think about their actions, emphasising that the time spent dealing with a deliberate fire is taken from someone who may be in danger.
A spokesman for North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service said:
“Over the last few months North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service has attended a number of fires in the Harrogate district that are believed to have been started deliberately. While we are responding to these fires we are not available to respond to other emergencies.
“Starting fires is usually a criminal offence and can endanger lives. We’ve also been to a few campfires that have been left unattended or have spread. Please only light campfires in safe, designated areas and make sure they’re fully extinguished.”
Fires in woodlands and outdoor spaces are particularly dangerous. If left unattended or not extinguished properly, they can spread quickly.
The fire service believes some of the fires could have been started by young people. It has offered advice to parents to ensure that, as the summer holidays continue, children stay safe. It said:
- Fire spreads quickly and can be unpredictable.
- Playing with fire in the home or garden can have serious unintended consequences.
- Fires outside can easily get out of control and cause damage to woodland, moorland and wildlife.
Parents can get confidential advice by calling 0800 074 0064 or emailing safeguarding@northyorksfire.gov.uk.
Read more:
- During lockdown, local firefighters went above and beyond to cook Sunday roasts for local residents.
- Rural crime costs North Yorkshire millions each year.
Fire damages Pateley Bridge art shop
A fire damaged HSC Fine Arts and Antiques in Pateley Bridge on Saturday afternoon.
Nobody was in the building at the time of the fire and firefighters safely extinguished it by the evening. The holiday flat above the shop was also empty.
According to owner David Hinchcliffe, who also owns Artful Arts in Pateley Bridge, the fire was started by a light fitting which failed.
He told the Stray Ferret:
“These things happen. We’ve spent the whole of lockdown renovating our other shop so thank goodness it wasn’t that one.
“At least we didn’t lose much and nobody was hurt.”
Read more:
The shop specialises in 18th-century antique prints and Mr Hinchcliffe said most of the artwork was covered which has protected it from smoke damage.
He added:
“We’ll have it up and running again before long.”