What happened at Harrow Court, Stevenage?

On 2 February 2005 a fire broke out in the Harrow Court tower block in Stevenage. The fire tragically claimed the lives of three people, including two firefighters.

The tower was built in the 1960s consisting of 104 flats - six on each floor with the exception of the ground. It was owned by Stevenage Borough Council.

How did the Harrow Court fire start?

The source of ignition is unknown but the fire started in flat 85 on the 14th floor of the 18 storey tower block.

Upon arrival at 03:03 two firefighters entered flat 85, rescuing one occupant and returning for a second. A hose connected to the riser would not operate resulting in the firefighters having no means to extinguish the fire or protect themselves.

By now the fire had developed majorly, burning combustibles and trapping the firefighters who had become entangled by a melted cable conduit above the exit door. Reinforcing crews found them outside the doorway and in a room next to the second occupant.

What can the industry learn from the Harrow Court fire?

An inquiry into the event concluded that although the fire had been initially contained to the bedroom, opening the door without means to extinguish the fire allowed more oxygen to fuel it further, developing into flashover and backdraft conditions.

It was reported that the two firefighters did not have access to water to tackle the fire because the outlets at the flats may have been chained shut due to vandalism.

Stevenage Borough Council had informed the fire service of this condition, however the first fire engine to arrive had not brought bolt cutters. It was also reported that a risk assessment had not been carried out before the fire officers went into the flats.