Extinguishers banned as ‘fire risk’

Astonished residents at a Bournemouth block of flats have been told to remove fire extinguishers from communal areas - as a way of improving fire safety.

The recommendation has been branded "the nanny state gone mad" by residents of Avon House on the West Cliff.

But an independent fire risk assessment ruled the extinguishers were a hazard in untrained hands and could encourage people to try and tackle a blaze themselves rather than leaving the building.



Mike Edwards, one of the directors of Avon House in West Cliff Road, said: "I was absolutely staggered to discover the fire extinguishers were to be taken out. It's ludicrous, like Britain has gone mad. Anyone with an ounce of common sense would know how to use a fire extinguisher."

Hamilton Townsend, which acts as managing agents for Avon House, the company said there was a statutory requirement to have fire risk assessments carried out by qualified assessors. It confirmed that at several properties, the recommendation was to remove extinguishers because residents have no specific training on how to handle them.

The recommendation has also been supported by Dorset Fire and Rescue Service.