Fair Isle Bird Observatory fire

[Muckle Oxters]

Dis is bad news. I sounds lik aabody is OK.  I hope da damage isna too bad.

 

https://www.shetnews.co.uk/2019/03/10/fire-fighters-tackle-blaze-at-bird-observatory/

[Muckle Oxters]

https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/islands/1695972/fire-crew-transported-in-by-helicopter-as-fire-breaks-out-at-fair-isle-bird-observatory/

[Kavi Ugl]

^{Sadly, it's been completely destroyed}  

[Kaiser chef]

It didn't really stand a chance. Just thankful no one was injured.

[Davie P]

Terrible news  Here's an update with a photo of the blaze https://www.shetnews.co.uk/2019/03/10/fire-destroys-fair-isle-bird-observatory/

Edited March 10, 2019 by Davie P

[Suffererof1crankymofo]

This is tragic; however, one can't help but wonder what part, if any, the solar panels had to play given that the original seat of the fire appears to be where they were located on the roof.  No doubt the official investigations will shed more light.

 

One would also have hoped given the wooden structure that there was a sprinkler system installed.

 

Be nice to see a crowdfunding scheme in place should insurers not pay out; I, for one, would far rather contribute to this than the pathetic MRI scanner appeal.

[Muckle Oxters]

^ oof!

 

I'm sure da building complied we fire regs.

 

I'll no comment on da last bit!

Edited March 11, 2019 by Muckle Oxters

[Muckle Oxters]

https://www.shetnews.co.uk/2019/03/11/trust-keen-to-see-bird-observatory-rebuilt/

 

"Dennis added that as the building was insured, the trust is not planning to put out a special appeal to raise funds.

People from across the world have questioned on social media how they can help, however, with some people choosing to donate directly to the trust."

[Suffererof1crankymofo]

@ Muckle Oxters.

 

Not sure of Scottish Fire Regulations, but in England you don't have to have a sprinkler system unless a building is 30m or more in height.  That doesn't mean to say it wouldn't be good practice to install a sprinkler system.

 

Also, it's well-known that inverters used with solar panels have been known to start fires in the past; in fact, whilst there are benefits to green energy, it is also a known risk.  Just because a building is fully insured does not mean insurers would actually pay out 100%; for example, many insurers won't pay out the full amount if you are away from home and a building is unoccupied for more than 2 weeks and you have failed to notify your insurers of this fact if say a flood broke out at Week 4 of the building being unoccupied.  They won't just be looking at the fire report, they'll look at stuff like maintenance of systems, etc.  Loss adjusters normally take more than a year to investigate and recommendations made to insurers re pay outs so how they expect to re-build within a year beats me (Didn't Dennis say that they'll have lost a year?  I reckon they've lost far more than that.)

There is a crowdfunding scheme for the family, the fund wanted to raise £2,000 but last time I looked, 334 people had donated over £11,000 in six hours.

Edited March 11, 2019 by Suffererof1crankymofo

[Ghostrider]

I'm sure da building complied we fire regs.

 

No doubt the same was thought of Grenfell. The Obs may well have complied fully, I'll be somewhat surprised if it turns out otherwise, but I guess we'll just have to wait and see what gets shaken out of the bag on that one in time.

 

While what has happened is tragic enough, this was a 32 bed hotel by any other name, and the speed with which the fire seems to have spread, especially if as the media suggests it started in the roof, along with the fact the entire building was effectively destroyed in six hours, give or take, makes it all considerably more worrying.

 

Imagine if this had happened in the middle of the night in a few months time rather than right now, when there was a full or near complement of guests in it, along with staff, which would likely raise the occupancy level to +/- 40, and the alarm was only raised once the smoke and/or fire spread inside the building was waking people up.

 

Hopefully the outcome of such a situation would have been no worse, but in a modern commercial residential building of the size this was, that was less than 10 years old with all the fire retardent material, fire doors, fire breaks etc that regs insist are included in such things these days, you would have hoped for much better containment at source, and a much slower spread if one eventually occured.

 

It just makes you wonder, that if this is an example of all fire regs can achieve, are they worth the paper they're written on.

[George.]

Not sure why anybody would want to contribute to the Fair Isle Observatory & Guesthouse. It appears to be a private business and if so, it should be insured and that will cover it.

[Muckle Oxters]

^ it says at da bottom o every page o da website du linked to dat "Fair Isle Bird Observatory is run by an independent charity, Fair Isle Bird Observatory Trust (a registered Scottish charity SCO 11160)."

[Nigel Bridgman-Elliot]

Perhaps the replacement building will be of something like more fire resistant concrete.

Someone mentioned there was an earth quake a little earlier, so that could have jolted wiring.

I'm reminded of a fireman telling me once that most fires was electrical in nature, so perhaps more fuses might help, or items that could possibly overheat (Batteries ?) might be in fire retardant boxes/etc. with maybe heat sensors.

I'm a big fan of fuses everywhere myself.

I quite fancy sprinklers if I come to build my own home at some point. (Along with concrete fire doors.)
 

[Ian_H]

It looks like the roof covering was pressed metal tiles.
https://www.metrotile.co.uk/case-studies/fair-isle-bird-observatory/

 

I couldn’t find anything in the construction details as to how the wires from the photovoltaic panels are or should be taken in through the roof.

[Nigel Bridgman-Elliot]

I've not found much detail about it either, did find this:

https://www.ads.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/21_Fair-Isle-Bird-Observatory.pdf