Hudson Building Fire - 5 April 2007
From NRVRA
This page has been put up to inform residents of everything they need to know about the recent fire in the Hudson building in New River Village. If there is anything not on this page that you would like to know, please head on over to the Forum. We Will be updating this page periodically, but most of the new information will be on the forum first.
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Susan Elliot - Hudson Building Fire Victim
The woman killed in the fire in the Hudson building was Susan Elliott, the widow of actor Denholm Elliott. There is more information about her life in Richard Kay's Daily Mail column. Also the Hornsey Journal has spoken to Rob Lyons, the man who herocically rescued her from her blazing flat.
Hudson Building Fire Damage Update - 12 April 2007
Updated information on the fire in Hudson building from St James (via Angela):
We are writing to you with regards to the tragic events that occurred following the outbreak of a fire in one of the privately owned 4th floor apartments situated in the Hudson Building at New River Village on Thursday 5th April.
Firstly, St James Homes would like to offer its deepest condolences to all those affected by this sad event and will be able to comment further when the official report from the fire service has been issued.
Following the incident, St James Homes has received a number of communications from residents and would therefore like to take this opportunity to ensure the New River Village Residents Association that it is in close liaison with Haringey Council regarding this matter and have had the following communication from the Principal Building Surveyor at the Council regarding the situation:
I can confirm that the fire strategy for these buildings is as follows; which complies with the Building Regulations 2000, and BS 5588 Pt.1
- Within each unit, there is a smoke detection system for that flat only.
- The maximum distance from any point in a room to a protected fire escape is 9 metres.
- Each entrance door to a unit leads into a communal hallway, once entering there will be a choice of two escape routes.
- Any unit, which passes into a dead-end corridor, which leave occupants only one route of escape, has a travel distance to the staircase, limited to 7.5 metres.
- Dead-end corridors have been fitted with automatic smoke vents, which are activated off smoke detectors within the corridors, to remove smoke from these areas.
- All staircases lead to external doors and are protected from flats by a minimum of two doors. All staircases are ventilated, either
through automatic or manual vents at the top of the stairs.
New River Village is designed with an overall strategy of means of escape for flats of this type is to evacuate only the unit where a fire occurs, and to contain the fire within that unit.
St James Homes would like to assure the New River Village Residents Association that all effort is being made to determine the cause of the fire and as soon as there is any further information, residents will be notified.
Yours sincerely,
Michelle Harris, Sales and Marketing Director St James Homes (North Thames)
Hudson Building Fire Damage Update - 5 April 2007
To All Residents Hudson Building New River Village
5th April 2007
Dear Resident Fire Damage Update
Please find below an update in respect of the fire incident, which has caused damage to your block. In the early hours of this morning a fire started in a 4th floor apartment. Fire crews attended quickly and the blaze was stopped. However, this has caused damage to several properties and the communal areas of the block.
You will notice several communal windows are open and have been open since the incident. These are AOV windows (Automatic Opening Vents), these allow smoke to be dispersed from the building quickly without manual operation. These windows have been checked and tested and we can confirm that all of the AOV’s worked correctly at the time of the fire, please note these windows will remain open on the fourth floor to allow all of the affected areas to be ventilated fully.
You will also note that the smoke alarm panel in the foyer of the block is still sounding an alarm. The contractor will reset this once the fire brigade has confirmed it can be reset and the AOV’s have been closed. Please note at the bottom of this letter the smoke alarm procedure.
Reinstatement works have already progressed in the common parts and once the fire brigade has handed back these areas which are under their control (hopefully later this evening), the common areas will then be temporarily reinstated over the weekend in order to allow access to the remaining flats where possible.
The buildings insurer has been made aware of this event and their loss adjusters attended and viewed the damage to the fabric of the building this morning. He has provided us with the following information in regards to any claim.
If you are a resident who was evacuated from your property and has sought alternative accommodation, the loss adjuster has advised that any claim for this alternative accommodation will have to be claimed through your own contents insurance. In the event that your contents insurer will not honour the claim, then we will consider possible reimbursement of reasonable alternative accommodation costs.
If you have not yet made arrangements for alternative accommodation, you can contact Haringey Housing Advice Line who will be able to assist you in finding temporary accommodation. Their number is: 0208 489 4336.
Whilst we have managed to contact most of the residents directly affected there may be a number who have not informed us of damage, therefore if your flat has been affected by the fire and you wish to make a claim please do not hesitate to contact Rachael Gibbs on the following numbers:
Over the bank holiday weekend 07983 959 080 From Tuesday onwards 0207 481 6996 Claims department rachael.gibbs@rendallandrittner.co.uk Concierge 0208 341 6725
From Tuesday, the insurers have asked St. James to visit each flat and establish the scope of works necessary to reinstate any of the damage caused to the flats. To avoid any further inconvenience, please ensure that you leave a set of keys with The Concierge who will then be able to provide access without difficulty.
As mentioned above we are expecting the common areas to be cleaned up and temporarily repaired over the bank holiday weekend once access has been granted to affected areas by the fire brigade. We will be in touch again next week with all those residents who may require works to their flats.
Yours faithfully
Matt Rittner Rendall and Rittner Limited. For and on behalf of New River Village Management Company Limited
Smoke Alarms
Building Regulations set the criteria for the fire safety strategy at new river village, the basis for residential buildings is to avoid an uncontrolled evacuation, which could be caused by audible alarms within communal corridors.
The criteria set the principal that unless a fire is within an occupant’s own flat occupants are to remain within their accommodation. Each apartment is fire rated so that any fire is contained, and separated from the rest of the building for a period of at least 30mins. (Walls and floors and 60mins)
If the fire is within an apartment there is a heat detector within the kitchen/reception and smoke detector in the hall these detectors do have audible alarms to alert the occupant of fire so they can exit.
The smoke detectors, heat detectors and break glass in the communal corridors operate a smoke ventilation system. This is either automatic opening windows or vertical shafts to allow smoke to escape in the event of a fire. The break glasses and fire alarm panel at ground floor level are for fire brigade use only. In addition there are manual vents for fire brigade use at the top of the stairs and some window vents.
In a rare case that a full evacuation is required this will only be ordered by the officer in charge. The fire brigade require that an uncontrolled evacuation does not happen as any panic could cause further risk of injury. In the recent event documented above. the fire safety systems performed as required and this has been confirmed by the fire brigade.
There is also information about the fire at BBC news in the Hornsey Journal and in the NRVRA forum.
