Following a major fire at a well known Isle of Wight hotel, a national company has re-issued its fire safety procedures at all its businesses.
In March, Ryde Castle Hotel was almost entirely destroyed by the blaze. Detailed investigations have now confirmed that the most likely cause was a fireworks display on the roof of the building that started the fire.
Ryde Castle owner Greene King has worked closely with the Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service since the incident and reinforced its fire safety rules to help ensure a similar incident does not happen again.
Very real dangers
Steve Apter, Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service chief fire officer said “While fireworks may be a spectacular way to celebrate a special occasion, there are very real dangers if the proper precautions are not taken as we saw. This includes not only events at buildings, but also private parties in people’s homes.
“I would like to remind anyone, in particular businesses, of the dangers involved when using fireworks and the need to take all necessary precautions including using suitable areas for any such displays.
“The fire service is always happy to offer advice and guidance and we are pleased Greene King has reinforced its fire procedures to prevent another Ryde Castle incident from happening”.
A spokesperson from Greene King said “We take health and safety very seriously and regularly train our staff on these important procedures.”
Image: © Used with the kind permission of Brightwight Images
