Vulnerable people fire risk

Failure of social services and housing providers to proactively assess fire risks, identify vulnerable individuals, and implement preventative measures.

69 items 7 sources 3 inquiries
Strongest theme matches

Mixed across source types and ranked by classifier confidence plus text match strength.

Indicative ranking
PFD report
81match
Sylvia Griffiths
Nov 2020 · Staffordshire (South)
Consideration should be given to fire and smoke alarms specifically designed for people with dementia, which could improve safety for this vulnerable group.
Matched on terms: fire, people, vulnerable
PFD report
81match
Gabrielle Steel
Oct 2024 · East London
Critical fire safety assessment findings were not communicated by the London Fire Brigade to carers or family, preventing the implementation of a vital risk management plan for a vulnerable individual.
Matched on terms: fire, vulnerable
PFD report
77match
Betty Grace Payne
Sep 2013 · Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire
Insufficient information sharing about vulnerable individuals with the Fire Service and a lack of training for Local Authority staff on home fire safety checks increase fire risks for the elderly.
Matched on terms: fire, vulnerable
PFD report
75match
Brian MaClean
Sep 2017 · Manchester (City)
Social Services and housing providers failed to proactively assess fire risks, make referrals to fire services, or install automatic water suppression systems and appropriate alarms for high-risk individuals.
Matched on terms: fire
PFD report
73match
Julie Ann Camm
Jan 2014 · West Yorkshire (East)
A vulnerable tenant's property lacked smoke alarms because the housing association's policy only encouraged fire safety checks, failing to ensure installation and increasing the risk of death from fire.
Matched on terms: fire, vulnerable
PFD report
73match
Emma Waring
Sep 2015 · Manchester (North)
The absence of compulsory automatic water suppression systems in residential properties, especially for vulnerable individuals, represents a significant fire safety risk.
Matched on terms: fire, vulnerable
PFD report
73match
Reginald Cauthery
Oct 2022 · Inner North London
A vulnerable person's telecare service was not reviewed despite increased fire risk, and smoke alarms were not connected to telecare, delaying emergency fire brigade notification.
Matched on terms: fire, vulnerable
Inquiry recommendation
72match
P2-10 - Require fire safety strategy from registered fire engineer at Gateway 2
Grenfell Tower Inquiry
That it be made a statutory requirement that a fire safety strategy produced by a registered fire engineer to be submitted with building control applications (at Gateway 2) for the construction or refurbishment of any higher-risk building and for it to be reviewed and re-submitted at the stage of completion (Gateway 3). Such a strategy must take into...
Matched on terms: fire, people, vulnerable
PFD report
69match
William Thompson
Apr 2016 · London Inner (North)
A high-risk service user lacked a smoke detector in his bedroom; social workers failed to assess or address this significant fire safety risk.
Matched on terms: fire
PFD report
69match
James Golds
Aug 2021 · Greater Manchester South
Inadequate guidance exists for managing fire risk in supported accommodation for vulnerable residents, exacerbated by no statutory sprinkler requirement and ineffective smoke detector placement.
Matched on terms: fire, vulnerable
PFD report
69match
Brian Harfield
Mar 2023 · West Sussex
There's a critical lack of compulsory fire safety provisions, such as sprinklers, in extra care facilities for vulnerable, immobile residents, leaving them at significant risk of death from fires.
Matched on terms: fire, vulnerable
PFD report
65match
Christopher Hart
Aug 2019 · Manchester (South)
The housing provider failed to impose fire safety standards for tenant furniture and did not review sprinkler system installation, despite evidence of their life-saving potential.
Matched on terms: fire
PFD report
65match
Neil Barre
Nov 2020 · Staffordshire (South)
Communication between Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service and domiciliary care providers needs improvement to ensure awareness when clients are not using provided fire safety equipment.
Matched on terms: fire
PFD report
65match
Christopher Evans
Apr 2023 · Avon
A deficiency in the regulatory framework means vulnerable persons in supported HMOs are not protected from scalding risks, as no regulatory body assesses or requires thermostatic controls, unlike other health and social care settings.
Matched on terms: vulnerable
PFD report
61match
Sidney Harvey
Feb 2014 · South Lincolnshire
Non-safety glass doors in rented properties, particularly where vulnerable individuals reside, pose a risk, and there is no clear system for their replacement or safety upgrade.
Matched on terms: vulnerable
PFD report
61match
Ian Leak
Aug 2017 · Manchester (South)
The communal fire alarm system at Honiton Oaks failed to trigger audible alerts within individual flats, raising serious safety concerns for residents, particularly those with mobility problems under a "Stay Put" policy.
Matched on terms: fire
PFD report
61match
Kevin Freely
Jun 2018 · London (West)
Insufficient awareness and adherence to fire safety warnings regarding paraffin-based emollients, smoking in bed, and air-flow mattresses, combined with inadequate risk assessments, pose significant fire risks.
Matched on terms: fire
PFD report
61match
Liam Allan
Jan 2025 · West London
Inadequate visibility of riverside buoyancy aids and slow, telephone-based police-to-fire service communication create critical delays in emergency response, increasing drowning risks.
Matched on terms: fire
PFD report
61match
Jacqueline Joseph
Feb 2026 · Bedfordshire and Luton
The housing association property had two incorrectly installed battery-operated smoke alarms, posing a fire safety risk.
Matched on terms: fire
PFD report
57match
Vera Lillian Steel
Aug 2013 · Surrey
A frail, bedbound resident fatally burned herself while smoking. Care homes should be encouraged to provide fire-protective aprons or smocks to residents who smoke to prevent similar incidents.
Matched on terms: fire
PFD report
57match
Alfred Hodges
Jan 2014 · North Central & North East Wales
Conwy's Telecare package lacks standard interlinked smoke alarms, and interim safety provisions are unclear. Additionally, the deceased was not offered a free home fire safety check.
Matched on terms: fire
PFD report
57match
John Hills
Aug 2015 · West Sussex
Paraffin-based emollient creams lacked fire hazard warnings on labels and prescriptions, and risks were not communicated to a known smoker, highlighting a gap in NPSA guidance for lower percentage creams.
Matched on terms: fire
PFD report
57match
Sadie Peters, Joseph Peters and George Peters
May 2016 · Surrey
Inadequate awareness programmes exist for the importance of fitting and maintaining smoke detectors in mobile and static caravans, increasing fire safety risks.
Matched on terms: fire
PFD report
57match
Brian Bicat
May 2018 · West Yorkshire (West)
Inadequate fire hazard warnings on paraffin-based emollient packaging, insufficient awareness among healthcare professionals and the public, and inconsistent prescribing system alerts pose significant fire risks.
Matched on terms: fire
PFD report
57match
Mihaela Lazar
Dec 2018 · London (East)
Inadequate fire detection and warning systems, including missing smoke alarms and kitchen doors, combined with unacceptable escape routes in older maisonettes, pose a significant fire risk in thousands of properties.
Matched on terms: fire
PFD report
57match
Riley Holt, Keegan Unitt, Tilly-Rose Unitt and Olly Unitt
Nov 2020 · Staffordshire South
Conventional smoke alarms may be ineffective for children under 16, particularly boys, suggesting mandatory fire suppression systems in all new properties, similar to Wales, should be considered.
Matched on terms: fire
PFD report
57match
Henry Boddy
Jul 2021 · Inner London North
There is a gap in enforcement powers regarding fire risks in residential properties, specifically the risks of a fire load arising from hoarding behaviour.
Matched on terms: fire
PFD report
57match
Daphne Holloway and Ivy Spriggs
Feb 2022 · Hertfordshire
Sprinkler systems are not mandatory for care homes with residents of limited mobility, and these buildings aren't classified as 'Higher Risk Buildings' based on occupant vulnerability, leaving them at elevated fire risk.
Matched on terms: fire
PFD report
57match
Saima Usman
Apr 2022 · Inner West London
Privately rented accommodation in Wandsworth is at increased fire and CO risk due to the lack of mandatory smoke/CO detectors, as the borough has no registered landlord scheme or enforcement powers.
Matched on terms: fire
PFD report
57match
Paul Keating
Jul 2023 · West Yorkshire (Eastern)
The local authority lacked statutory power to install sprinkler systems in private flats without consent, leading to one resident's flat remaining unconnected, which likely contributed to his fire-related death.
Matched on terms: fire
Inquiry recommendation
51match
P1-28 - National guidelines for high-rise evacuations
Grenfell Tower Inquiry
The government develop national guidelines for carrying out partial or total evacuations of high-rise residential buildings, such guidelines to include the means of protecting fire exit routes and procedures for evacuating persons who are unable to use the stairs in an emergency, or who may require assistance (such as disabled people, older people and young children).
Matched on terms: fire, people
PFD report
49match
Tony Goodridge
Mar 2019 · London Inner (North)
The property lacked a smoke alarm. Emergency services faced difficulty accessing the property due to parked vehicles, hindering response.
Matched on classifier match
Inquiry recommendation
48match
P1-36 - Require understandable fire safety instructions
Grenfell Tower Inquiry
The owner and manager of every residential building containing separate dwellings (whether or not it is a high-rise building) be required by law to provide fire safety instructions (including instructions for evacuation) in a form that the occupants of the building can reasonably be expected to understand, taking into account the nature of the building and their knowledge...
Matched on terms: fire
LGO / SPSO decision
46match
PSOW-202405250 - Trivallis
PSOW (Public Services Ombudsman for Wales)
Mrs C complained about whether Trivallis (“the Association”) responded appropriately to reports of damp and mould made by her between November 2023 and the present time. The investigation found that the Association did not always respond appropriately to reports of damp and mould. Reports of issues in Mrs C’s home were not always acted on promptly or line...
Matched on terms: people, vulnerable
PFD report
45match
Anne Fowler
Mar 2015 · Black Country
Smoke alarm covers were left in place after installation, making them inaccessible and ineffective. Legislation should require their removal by builders or landlords prior to occupation.
Matched on classifier match
PFD report
45match
Sharon Soares
May 2017 · Wiltshire and Swindon
There have been multiple fatalities and numerous accidental injuries linked to Bio Ethanol burners, indicating an ongoing and significant product safety risk.
Matched on classifier match
PFD report
45match
Jac Davies
Aug 2017 · Swansea Neath and Port Talbot
Landlords in Wales are under no legal obligation to install smoke alarms in rented properties, contrasting with England's regulations, and current "best practice" recommendations carry no enforcement.
Matched on classifier match
IMB recommendation
39match
Bure (2025)
The Governor should ensure adequate heating is provided in Residential Unit 7, especially for elderly and vulnerable prisoners, and resolve the ongoing issue with the heating system.
Matched on terms: vulnerable
LGO / SPSO decision
39match
22-004-363 - London Borough of Newham
LGO (Local Government & Social Care Ombudsman)
Summary: Mr Y complained about the way the Council dealt with his request that it recall two outstanding penalty charge notice debts from its enforcement agents because he is a vulnerable person. We found fault in how the Council considered his request. But this fault did not cause Mr Y an injustice and so we have completed our...
Matched on terms: vulnerable
IMB recommendation
35match
Styal (2021)
There is a significant fire risk to prisoners who reside in the 16 houses which have not yet been refurbished at Styal. A recent survey has classed all of these buildings as red fire risk. These risks include the existence of false ceilings, and ceilings made of lath and plaster, which would require expensive and specialist repair to...
Matched on terms: fire
Inquiry recommendation
32match
P1-33 - Require PEEP information in premises information box
Grenfell Tower Inquiry
The owner and manager of every high-rise residential building be required by law to include up-to-date information about persons with reduced mobility and their associated PEEPs in the premises information box.
Matched on classifier match
Inquiry recommendation
32match
P1-32 - Require personal emergency evacuation plans (PEEPs)
Grenfell Tower Inquiry
The owner and manager of every high-rise residential building be required by law to prepare personal emergency evacuation plans (PEEPs) for all residents whose ability to self-evacuate may be compromised (such as persons with reduced mobility or cognition).
Matched on classifier match
Committee recommendation
31match
#16 - Fifth report: Pre-legislative scrutiny of the Building Safety Bill
Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee
We recommend that the Government specify in the Bill itself by way of a requirement to “have regard” the factors that must be considered in the future when the scope of the regime is expanded and that the ability of residents to evacuate the building be the principal factor. We also recommend that any requirement to have regard...
Matched on classifier match
Committee recommendation
31match
#15 - Fifth report: Pre-legislative scrutiny of the Building Safety Bill
Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee
On balance, we consider the initial definition of “higher-risk building” proposed by the Government to be reasonable and practical, though we agree with the evidence calling for the scope to be widened in the future to include a great number of risk 60 Pre-legislative scrutiny of the Building Safety Bill factors. In particular, the scope should take account...
Matched on classifier match
CQC action
31match
Homelea Residential Care Home
Should Do
The provider told us they would be implementing PEEPS in the near future.
Matched on classifier match
LGO / SPSO decision
30match
PSOW-202407682 - Newport City Homes
PSOW (Public Services Ombudsman for Wales)
Miss A complained that Newport City Homes (“the Housing Association”) failed to address issues including vermin, damp and heating at her home, which had been ongoing since September 2023. Windows would not lock and repairs to pipework, undertaken following flooding at the property, were not completed properly. Miss A was given conflicting information about who was responsible for...
Matched on classifier match
PPO recommendation
30match
The Governor
The Governor should ensure that before prisoners are located on B Wing, they are appropriately assessed to ensure they are vulnerable prisoners or are suitable to be housed with vulnerable prisoners.
Matched on terms: vulnerable
Inquiry recommendation
27match
FENN-65 - Ban the sale of smokers' materials at all Underground stations
Fennell Inquiry
The sale of smokers' materials at Underground stations shall be banned.
Matched on classifier match
Inquiry recommendation
27match
RONA-22 - Review regulations for storing explosive materials in high-rise residential blocks
Ronan Point Inquiry
The Regulations governing the storage of other potentially explosive materials in high blocks of flats should be reviewed {paragraph 173}.
Matched on classifier match
LGO / SPSO decision
26match
PSOW-202310243 - Swansea Council
PSOW (Public Services Ombudsman for Wales)
Ms K complained that Swansea Council failed to issue a response to her complaint, which she made to it in October 2023. The Ombudsman found that whilst the Council had logged Ms K’s concerns as a Stage 1 complaint, it had failed to provide a complaint response. She said that this caused frustration and uncertainty to Ms K....
Matched on classifier match