Jersey Explosion

[ABee]

With reports that the Jersey Fire & Rescue Service attended the St Helier block of flats to a smell of gas just a few hours before it was flattened in an explosion, I do hope the OIC of the first incident crossed all the Ts and dotted the i's before s/he left the job.

I cannot imagine leaving such a job without the gas authority being in attendance and giving me the nod it was OK to do so. Would I have kept a log, recorded times and names of those who declared the scene safe for me to leave? - I doubt it.

I am NOT suggesting anyone in Jersey Fire & Rescue have made an error - not for a minute - but can you imagine the same officer's thoughts when they heard the explosion at 4.30 this morning - and then presumably was turned out to it?

Such an awful job. It already looks from news media images that this was a timber framed building standing on a ground floor of brick or block. I doubt it's construction would help in maintaining the integrity of the building during such a violent event when compared to more traditional building methods

Its all so very sad and horrific for all those who attended or will attend

[bill.advanced]

I would be both astounded and angry if the gas authorities were not called. But why did the residents call for the fire service in the first place.
I attended two gas explosions in my time both to traditionally built buildings and they also were completely destroyed. The last thing you want in a gas explosion is a building that retains the explosive effect.
My thoughts are with all who are suffering right now.

RIP.

[bill.advanced]

Quite frankly some of the reporting here on the fire service response is pathetic. The BBC stated that the fire service declared the building safe. The fire service are not qualified or equipped to make such an assessment or decision. As I stated on my previous post, why was the fire service even involved. I have a sticker inside my hall cupboard on what to do if I smell gas. The fire service are not mentioned whatsoever. In all my service I don’t recall being turned out to a gas leak. Things may be different on Jersey, but surely decisions on gas installations don’t fall within the fire service remit.

[ABee]

Bill - It wasnt a rare event to get turned out in London to a gas leak. Other than isolate the supply and open windows (pretty much what almost any householder would do unaided) there wasnt too much that could be done.

Large HMOs and flats caused a few problems in relation to access to neighbouring flats when the source of the gas wasnt obvious or the method of isolation, but officially we couldn't break in anyway unless the Met gave us permission.

Some years ago, LFB management wanted to stop attending these calls as they can tie up resources while waiting for the gas suppliers engineers, but that was never instigated (I think!). The Ronan Point gas explosion and partial collapse was 54 years ago, but maybe that is why the LFB are a bit reluctant to say no to these shouts.

I understand what you say with regards to the building not holding on to an explosive effect, but I was at a concrete panel block of flats when a gas explosion occurred. during a siege incident. It was quite a bang! The windows and contents of the flat blew out and internal stud walls were flattened, but the concrete panel external walls stayed full in tact. The occupier of the flat was burned, but not significantly injured by any collapse. The Jersey timber frame construction certainly didnt hold the explosion, but neither did it stay up to allow any survival elsewhere

In recent years I have been involved in projects in buildings where internal explosions were likely. The structure of the building was designed with weakened external structural 'blow out points' to allow explosive forces to be expelled, but in a way that allowed the building to remain secure and standing. So it is possible to engineer buildings to survive a little better than this matchwood one Jersey, which of course is identical to 10s of thousands of others across the UK..... but it would add to the cost, so we will never see it

[bill.advanced]

It now appears that the fire service were turned out to a smell of gas, but handed the issue over to the gas authority a few minutes later. They did not as reported give the all clear. It also appears that this building was not connected to the gas mains. But sadly due to misleading reporting by the bbc and others many will still think that the fire service bears some responsibility.

My thoughts are with all who have suffered in this tragic accident.

RIP.