Police investigate high rise blaze

Wednesday 27 February 2019

Police and Fire officials have launched a joint investigation into a blaze in a high rise block in St. Helier yesterday that required 16 firefighters - some of whom needed breathing apparatus - to put it out.

The Fire Service said it received multiple calls about the fire around 16:40, leading to nine White Watch firefighters and six who were on call to head to the Cedars on Green Street.

Upon arrival, they saw smoke pouring out of a window on the fourth floor. It soon emerged that the fire developed in a communal area on that floor.

Four firefighters wearing breathing gear extinguished the fire using equipment within the building.

Pictured: Damage caused by the fire in the high rise block.

It is not yet clear what caused the fire, but Fire Service officials are now investigating alongside the States of Jersey Police.

Station Commander Mark Walker described the challenges of the operation, saying: “Fires in high rise buildings can be complex in nature due to Firefighting teams having to establish adequate water supplies and firefighting equipment on floors that are elevated well above a normal domestic dwelling height, whilst liaising with concerned residents.

"Fires such as these require a considerable amount of resources to be utilised in order for crews to extinguish any fire promptly that breaks out on elevated floors. At this incident, three appliances consisting of 16 firefighters were present to ensure that the fire was extinguished quickly and subsequent floors either side of the fire floor investigated for fire spread."

Pictured: Police are helping the Fire Service with the investigation.

The St. Helier blaze was one of two tackled by the Fire Service yesterday.

Shortly before 20:00, two fire engines were sent to St. Clement following reports of a kitchen fire in a family home. Two firefighters entered the property wearing breathing apparatus, discovering that the fire involved an oven hob and microwave, and subsequently extinguished it.

The team later praised the family for their quick-thinking actions upon hearing the smoke alarm, which reduced the amount of smoke damaged caused by the fire.

"These actions included the immediate investigation into the cause of the alarm, the quick alerting of other family members to evacuate the home, and the closing of the door to the fire compartment, these actions not only limited fire and smoke spread but ensured the safe and early evacuation of the family." a spokesperson said.