Over 10 fires a week in London's care homes triggers call for sprinklers

The London Fire Brigade has called for all care homes to install sprinklers, after it revealed there are more than 10 fires a week in London’s care homes and sheltered accommodation.

Last year, the Brigade saw 540 fires in care homes and sheltered accommodation in the capital – with two people dying and 26 people injured as a result.

It claims that the vast majority of care homes and sheltered accommodation in London are not fitted with these potentially life-saving devices.

London Fire Brigade deputy commissioner Rita Dexter said: “Older people, as well as people with mental health problems and those with mobility issues, are the group most at risk from fire and we are concerned by the number of vulnerable people like this who are still harmed or killed by fire in places where they should be safe.

“That’s why we want to see all residential care homes fitted with sprinklers. The number and regularity of care home fires that the Brigade attends is clear evidence that builders, developers, local authorities and private providers need to stop ignoring their benefits.”

There is a total of 1,754 care homes in London, according to the latest figures from carehome.co.uk.

In Scotland there is already a requirement within Building Standards for all new build residential care buildings to have sprinkler systems installed. London Fire Brigade believes there should be the same level of protection in London as sprinklers can be effective in stopping fires from spreading and putting them out quickly.

London Fire Brigade’s Draft Fifth London Safety Plan, which sets out how the Brigade will work over the next three years, includes a target to reduce fires in care homes and sheltered housing by three per cent by March 2016.

It also includes a commitment to campaign and promote opportunities for councils and housing providers to provide sprinklers as a cost effective way of saving property and protecting the lives of residents most at risk from fire.