Agenda item

The Assistant Chief Fire Officer (ACFO) presented the report which provided Members with information relating to operational incidents of note. As the operational period had been very busy, the report detailed only the larger deployments or more complex incidents. As a result, some incidents that Members had been made aware of locally, may not have formed part of the report. Full details of the following incidents were provided in the report:

• Major Incident involving electrical substation in Padiham (11/4/25)
• Wildfire in Darwen (12/4/25)
• Wildfire in Chorley (12/4/25)
• Domestic property fire in Ormskirk (14/4/25)
• Road Traffic Collision in Lancaster (20/4/25)
• Commercial building fire in Clitheroe (22/4/25)
• Commercial fire in Preesall (9/5/25)
• Commercial fire in Blackburn (10/5/25)
• Commercial fire in Longridge (14/5/25)
• Commercial fire in Fulwood (16/5/25)
• Wildfire in Burnley (17/5/25)

In response to a question from County Councillor J Tetlow in relation to determining the safety of properties and the potential for solar panels to still be live during incidents, the ACFO confirmed that the Service was reliant on building owners informing them of any risks, but tactics were implemented to ensure that crews operated safely and isolated power sources using a variety of methods.

In response to a question from County Councillor I Duxbury in relation to any common causes identified following the recent agricultural building fires, the ACFO confirmed that not all causes had been confirmed at this time, but work was ongoing with the Prevention Teams to work with farmers, game keepers and other relevant parties. She further confirmed that should any common themes be identified, these would be used to inform the Services future prevention strategies. The Chair added that the Assistant Director of Communication and Engagement was working with the agricultural community to share key messages and prevention advice. The CFO added that there could be a number of different causes which commonly include self-heating of materials, stacking of materials in barns near light fittings and farming practices being carried out during a protracted period of dry weather, there was an amalgamation of a number of different causes.

County Councillor R Walsh asked if the causes of incidents could be included in the report going forward. The CFO confirmed that the cause could look to be included where appropriate to do so; he added that in some incidents the extent of damage could impact the ability to determine the exact cause and in some cases there were limitations on reporting due to coronial or separate legal proceedings.

In response to a question from County Councillor J Tetlow in relation to the identification of cladding in the Lancashire area following the Grenfell Tower tragedy, the ACFO confirmed that on the conclusion of the Grenfell Tower investigation two sets of recommendations had been produced. LFRS had completed the phase 1 recommendations and was working through the phase 2 recommendations. Building owners had been consulted and the Protection Team had made very good progress in relation to the safety of high-rise buildings and had now moved on to medium-rise buildings. The DCFO added that this information was reported through the Planning Committee. Area Manager (AM) Matt Hamer confirmed that a medium rise building was defined as a building between 11 and 18 metres and there were in the region of 170 medium rise buildings identified throughout Lancashire.

Resolved: That the Authority noted and endorsed the report.

Group Manager (GM) Tom Cookson and Station Manager (SM) Ben Maris gave a presentation to members on the building fire at Tensar Manufacturing, Blackburn. Tensar was a world-leading manufacturer and provider of ground stabilisation and soil reinforcement solutions.

The initial call was received at 00:43hrs on 31 March 2025. The site consisted of a large building that was surrounded by large rolls of matting with lots of airflow. The site was surrounded by a number of smaller manufacturing buildings.

Following the initial call, a member of the public used the ‘999eye’ system to relay a number of images to North West Fire Control (NWFC). Upon receipt of these images NWFC increased the response to 6 fire engines and an Aerial Ladder Platform (ALP). This was then increased again to 10 fire engines, an ALP, a water tower, a water bowser, a robot, a high-volume pump (HVP), a command unit, a drone, a Hazmat Officer and Flexi Duty Officers (FDOs).

The incident management objectives were to: account for all building occupants, implement firefighting tactics, secure sufficient water supplies to manage the incident, prevent fire spread, stabilise the incident, control utilities to reduce hazards, access implications for surrounding areas and protect the environment. The incident priorities were firefighter, employee and public safety.

The firefighting tactics included use of multiple firefighting jets, use of water towers, ALP, robotic firefighting unit, ground monitors, hose reels and breathing apparatus.

The size of the fire was considerable, and the intensity was high; plastic within the site had melted to liquid and was on fire across the site. The building had a drencher system fitted to the outside of the building which assisted in slowing radiant heat from breaking through to the factory.

SM Maris explained that on his arrival at the incident at 01:15hrs he shared a pre-determined multi-agency information message with partners and declared a major incident due to people imminently starting their commute to work, the hospital being in close proximity, and the risk that the smoke plume could drift in that direction. He also explained that he had requested a high-volume pump (HVP) which could draw water from 1.5 miles away and would need to utilise Haslingden Road through the centre of Blackburn.

SM Maris explained that as a Station Manager he would manage incidents up to 6 fire engines, therefore at 01:30hrs Group Manager (GM) Cookson took over management of the incident. GM Cookson managed factors outside of the incident, including working with partner agencies and SM Maris continued as operations commander.

GM Cookson explained that he used the Command Unit to monitor footage being captured by the drone, this allowed him to have an aerial view, assess where the fire was travelling and communicate this with SM Maris. He advised that the Service received multi-agency support throughout the incident and the external drencher system assisted with limiting damage to the building.

LFRS remained on site for several days to conclude the incident. CCTV had helped to establish the cause of the fire as being of deliberate origin.

In response to a question from J Tetlow in relation to the advancement of technology and the use of drones to carry water, GM Cookson confirmed that the Drone Manager within the Service was the national Fire and Rescue lead for drones and was working on a project to use drones to carry water. The UK technology was not there yet but could be developed over the next 5 years.

The CFO thanked GM Cookson and SM Maris for their presentation and stated that there was an appetite for innovation within LFRS and investment from the CFA had allowed the Service to continue to improve equipment used by firefighters to deliver an effective operational response across the county.

In response to a question from County Councillor L Hutchinson in relation to if external sprinkler systems were recommended by LFRS, the CFO confirmed that under Fire Safety legislation it was the responsible person within the buildings responsibility to risk assess and identify fire prevention methods. However, LFRS were able to advise and support businesses.

The Chair remarked that the ALP had saved a number of houses recently, in Blackburn. He then asked how long LFRS remained on scene to dampen down at the Tensar incident. SM Maris confirmed that LFRS dampened down for at least two days following the incident.