Incident overview

“Essentially, anytime there is the use of an open flame or production of sparks, I strongly recommend referencing NFPA 51B.”

Patrick Earley, a member of the NFPA 51B Technical Committee

As reported by London Fire Brigade, eight fire engines and around 60 firefighters responded to a fire at a block of flats on Commercial Street in Spitalfields, London.

The blaze damaged half of a three-roomed flat on the third floor of the 22-storey building, destroyed a balcony, and affected part of a flat roof.

A woman was led to safety by firefighters wearing breathing apparatus.

Additionally, four people were treated at the scene by the London Ambulance Service, and all five individuals were taken to the hospital as a precaution.

Road closures between Commercial Street and Aldgate High Street have caused significant disruptions, and people are advised to avoid the area if possible.

Causes and responses

Control Officers received around 25 calls about the blaze, the first at 11:39 AM, and the fire was under control by 12:21 PM.

Crews from Shoreditch, Dowgate, Euston, and other nearby fire stations attended the scene.

One of the brigade’s 32-metre turntable ladders was used as an observation tower to assist in fighting the fire from above.

The fire is believed to be accidental, caused by hot works related to repairs being conducted.

Hot works refer to activities involving open flames, sparks, or tools that produce heat, such as welding, cutting, and soldering.

Expert insights on hot works safety

In an exclusive article for Fire and Safety Journal Americas, Senior Investigator Patrick Earley, a member of the NFPA 51B Technical Committee, highlighted the importance of understanding and adhering to NFPA 51B standards.

These standards cover fire prevention during welding, cutting, and other hot work operations.

Earley stated: “It is crucial for stakeholders in hot work operations to thoroughly understand this standard to determine if hot work is necessary.

If it is, they must ensure that they are meeting the requirements for clearance of combustibles, shielding, and adhering to other mandated safety practices.”

He emphasised that hot work safety is often overlooked, with professionals narrowly interpreting guidelines to only cover welding or torch operations.

He stressed that any activity producing sparks, such as grinding, brazing, and soldering, falls under these guidelines.

Implementing safety measures

To ensure safety in hot work, Earley advised following a three-step approach: recognize, evaluate, and control potential risks.

Identifying the type of hot work and potential fuel hazards in the work area is the first step.

Next, evaluating the hazards and assessing the likelihood of fuel and ignition sources coming into contact is essential.

Finally, implementing measures to eliminate or minimize fire risk is crucial.

A key aspect of NFPA 51B is using a checklist to guide these evaluations.

Earley explained: “The checklist emphasizes that if an operation requires an open flame and poses a significant risk, alternatives should be considered.

“The introduction of non-flame producing fittings has significantly contributed to reducing hot work-related fires.”

Fire watch duties and future safety measures

Fire watch duties are critical, requiring dedicated personnel to monitor the site during and for an hour after hot work.

Earley noted that technology, such as thermal cameras, could reduce the need for multiple fire watches on large projects by allowing a single person to monitor several floors digitally.

However, the reliability of such technology in detecting small embers is still being evaluated.

Earley also stressed the importance of education around hot work safety.

He advocates for better community education and insists that manufacturers include explicit safety instructions to prevent cost-cutting at the expense of safety.

“The Fire Service has not done enough to educate the community, and this needs to change,” he said.