What happened at the New Look store on Oxford Street in 2007?

On 26 April 2007 a fire broke out in New Look’s Oxford Street branch store in London. The store was occupied by around 450 people at the time. Fortunately there were no casualties.

How did the New Look Oxford Street store fire start?

The source of ignition is unknown however the seat of the fire was believed to be in a small second floor store room.

The store’s fire detection and alarm system operated as intended, however staff did not investigate or assist with evacuation of the occupants. Shoppers mostly went about their business until the intensity of the heat broke glass and windows, causing a panic.

150 occupants evacuated via the main access and egress route while a further 300 left through a neighbouring store.

What can the industry learn from the New Look Oxford Street store fire?

As per BBC News, Judge Geoffrey Rivlin QC said the April 2007 fire could have been "a disaster almost too awful to contemplate".

The £400,000 fine given to New Look represented the largest imposed since new fire safety legislation came into force in 2006.

The judge said the charges represented "significant failures" which "constituted a risk of death and serious injury". He continued with "We are here dealing with a multitude of very real and deeply disturbing breaches, resulting in a system falling a very long way below the standard required and to be expected of a company of this size".

A spokesperson for the store stated: “The firm has fully taken the recommendations of the court on board and will strengthen its company guidelines and working practices to ensure full compliance”.