Firefighters were called to a care home on the Essex coast on Thursday August 23rd when a blaze broke out in the building, leaving seven people homeless.
The incident occurred at The Firs on Thorpe Road in Frinton-on-Sea at around 5.50pm. It was caused when a drink was spilt onto a TV set in the common room, causing it to burst into flames.
Crews evacuated the ground floor of the home, and while some worked to extinguish the flames, others began a search for three missing people.
The individuals were found trapped on the first floor of the building and were later taken to hospital suffering from smoke inhalation.
A ‘suitable and sufficient’ fire risk assessment must be conducted on all commercial properties in England and Wales, including care homes, under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
If the fire risk assessment is deemed to be carried out to an insufficient extent, the Responsible Person can face an unlimited fine or a prison sentence of up to two years.