Cigarette causes Burton cladding fire

Friday 24 July 2020

A discarded cigarette has been identified as the source of a fire in Burton that led all customers and staff to be evacuated from the shop.

Nine firefighters were called to the men’s clothing store in St. Helier after smoke began filling the shop.

According to the Fire Service, the manager “did everything right and evacuated the shop”, as well as isolating the air conditioning unit she thought was the fault.

However, investigation by firefighters found the source was a “small” blaze in the building’s external cladding caused by a discarded cigarette.

It was one of three major incidents within a 24-hour period.

Shortly after, the team was then called to deal with a faulty washing machine element that had “failed and blown up” in a residential communal laundry facility.

Then yesterday the evening, a large-scale furze fire broke out near Grantez dolmen in St. Ouen.

10 firefighters were sent to put it out, with two fire trucks and one water carrier.

The fire, which damaged a 25x25m area of furze, was said to be “quickly contained” and brought under control. 

No one was injured in any of the incidents.