ABSTRACT
The financial costs associated with serious fires are very high including, in many cases (believed to be over 40%), the failure to start up the business again. Never underestimate the potential of any fire. What may appear to be a small fire in a waste bin, if not dealt with, can quickly spread through a building or a structure. The Bradford City Football ground in 1985, or King’s Cross Underground station in 1987 are examples of where small fires quickly became raging infernos, resulting in many deaths and serious injuries. The Buncefield fuel storage depot fire in December 2005 and the Deep Water Horizon oil drilling platform fire in 2010 are further recent examples of the destruction that a large fire and explosion can cause.
