Marley joined the Uni Family on Saturday when his new owners (Uni-Guard Directors Alan and Carol) went to pick him up from the Dogs Trust Shoreham  on 28^th April.

Marley absolutely loves being around people and loves running around the unit to find new people to play with. He is as good as gold and has settled in very quickly. If you’re in the area feel free to pop in and say hi as he loves making new friends!

The long weekend event will be held at the The Lawns, Denmead, Hampshire, PO7 6TZ (3 miles north of Portsmouth) and is in support of Combat Stress, a charity dedicated to helping Veterans with help and advice on any mental health issues to the military community and their families.  Overlord 2012 is the biggest show in the South for military enthusiasts and is a great family day out. There will be over 350 military vehicles on show, live battle re-enactments and events throughout the day in the spectacular arena. You can even join in the fun by dressing up in 1940’s style on Nostalgia Sunday.

For more information, times and admission prices please visit http://www.solentoverlord.co.uk/blog/.

The blaze which started Tuesday morning, involved 5,000 tonnes of scrap metal and was expected to burn for several days. However the fire fighting operation has now been scaled down according to a Hampshire Fire Service spokesman.

Sixty fire fighters have been to the scene since the fire began including fire fighters from Southsea and Basingstoke fire stations. However this has now been scaled down. A fire service spokesman said: “Firefighting operations have progressed much quicker than expected overnight, helped by heavy rain and strong winds.

The fire service is investigating whether the blaze could have been caused by a chemical reaction and no-one is believed to have been hurt.

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-17752156

18^th April 2012

Three fire engines and the fire brigade’s Incident Investigation Team attended the scene after the man from Liverpool lit the outdoor chiminea using petrol and the fumes caught light at his home.

District manager for Liverpool at Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service, Richie Davis, said: ‘This fire happened after four-stroke unleaded lawnmower petrol was used in an attempt to light a chiminea in the garden.’

Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service have issued safety advice to people when lighting garden chimneys, or chimineas and barbecues over the summer.

Mr Davis said ‘We would urge people to take great care when lighting garden furniture such as chimineas or when lighting barbecues. Only products designed for such purposes should be used, and under no circumstances should any form of flammable liquid be used to either light a fire or encourage a fire to develop.’

Source: http://www.merseyfire.gov.uk/aspx/pages/LocalNews/LocalDetail.aspx?id=700

All guests were evacuated from the 18 bedroom property just after 10pm on Saturday 17th March 2012. Guests at the wedding reception reported smoke rising from the roof and fire fighters started a 12 hour battle to save the building.

Chief fire officer Steve Apter revealed that crews managed to get out of the building just before the roof collapsed.

He said: “[Fire-fighters] were faced with quite a serious fire in the roof and the upper floors in the middle part of the building.

“We have had a collapsed middle part of the building so obviously very dangerous and difficult conditions for fire-fighters to be working in but thankfully no injuries.”

Fire crews are investigating if fireworks let off to celebrate the wedding may have started the blaze.

Source: http://www.fia.uk.com/en/Information/Details/index.cfm/Isle-of-Wight-hotel-collapses-after-fire

Roy Hinchcliffe was jailed for two years after being repeatedly warned that he was exceeding the limit of waste he was permitted to store at the site but he failed to reduce the amount of waste to the 700 tonnes he was allowed to store.  Only days after a suspension notice had been issued a fire broke out on the 7^th February 2010 and burned until 8^th March 2010, polluting the neighbourhood and costing the fire service £800,000 and valuable time.

Three fire-fighters and an aerial appliance were typically in use at the fire every day. Deputy CFO Steve Buckley, of West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, said at the time “Hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of lifesaving equipment may be tied up for weeks but we will be there supporting the local community for as long as it takes.”

A further £400,000 was spent on management and contractors having to move some of the waste, Diana Maudsley, prosecuting for the Environment Agency, told the court.

Mr Hinchcliffe admitted exceeding the storage limit at the site and was jailed for two years. He also admitted storing additional waste at two other sites without a permit and to failing to comply with a notice to reduce waste. Roy Hinchcliffe’s son Neil was also jailed for 16 months in connection with the waste that was stored at the additional sites.

Judge James Spencer QC said at sentencing, “The waste that you allowed to be stored was unsightly, it was dangerous, it was unfenced and capable of escaping with no element at all of control.

Fire was a clear hazard and he added: “Fire of course is what happened at Scout Hill, a fire that was burning for over a month, which cost thousands to control and deal with, made worse because of the scale of overtipping within that site.”

Sources: http://www.info4fire.com/news-content/full/man-jailed-for-2-years-after-waste-disposal-site-fire

And http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/at-a-glance/main-section/man-jailed-over-rule-breaches-at-waste-site-hit-by-costly-blaze-1-4341430

The property in Southampton, suffered a fire on the night of 28^th March 2011, during which fire-fighters led residents of the premises to safety.

The owner appeared at West Hampshire Magistrates Court, Southampton on Thursday 23^rd February 2012, where he pleaded guilty to seven offences against the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.

The prosecution was brought about by the Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service after post fire inspection found serious fire safety issues and the owner was fined a total of £7,600 as follows:

- Failure of the provided fire alarm – £1500
- Blocking of a fire exit – £2000
- Fire doors not fitted with self-closing devices – £1000
- 2 x Fire doors not maintained to an appropriate standard – £1000 each
- Damaged electrical socket and exposed wiring – £1000
- Failure to provide information to the Fire Authority when requested – £100

Area Manager Mick Crennell of Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service said:

“Houses in Multiple Occupation are homes, frequently, to some of our communities more vulnerable members. Landlords have a duty to ensure the safety of tenants in their homes. We will continue to work with our partner agencies and landlords to protect our communities and take necessary steps to ensure their continued safety, however, as a last resort we will continue to take robust action through the legal system against those landlords that do not take their responsibilities seriously.”

Source: http://www.hantsfire.gov.uk/stories.htm?newsid=61834&stdate=

After pleading not guilty, Michael Wilson (Director of Chumleigh Lodge Hotel Limited) was charged with 12 offences under the Fire Safety Order.  The hotel was ordered to pay £30,000, while Mr Wilson was charged with a £180,000 fine.

Following the blaze in 2008 inspectors found some bedrooms were not fitted with a smoke alarm, blocked escape routes and defective fire doors. Mr Wilson could also not produce a sufficient risk assessment and staff had not been given adequate fire safety training.

During the blaze three people were forced to flee the burning building and one of them had to escape via a window after fire spread from a first-floor bedroom up to the second floor corridor. The case is the first of its kind as the verdict was decided by a jury rather than a magistrate or judge.

Chairman of London fire and emergency planning authority and Barnet Council cabinet member, Brian Coleman welcomed the verdict: Business owners have a clear responsibility under fire safety law to ensure that both the public and their employees are as safe as possible from the risk of fire. This verdict sends out a clear message that if these responsibilities are ignored we will not hesitate in prosecuting and people will face serious penalties.’

Source: http://www.barnet-today.co.uk/news.cfm?id=5390&headline=Hotel%20fined%20over%20fire%20safety%20breach

*In recent years four people have died in boat fires at night when they were asleep and a working smoke detector could have helped them to escape. Although a fire is unlikely on a boat that is well maintained and kept up to minimum safety standards, it is always best to be prepared, have a plan of action and ensure your boat is equipped with the necessary equipment.

The Boat Safety Scheme is a great resource for boat owners to ensure safety on-board. Visit www.boatsafetyscheme.com for more information.

*Source: http://staysafe.boatsafetyscheme.com/fire-safety-for-boats