According to the London Fire Brigade (LFB), in 2025 there were
823 fire incidents in proximity of a heritage
site (within 15 metres or within the same building). 19 of these
fires involved casualties.
Charlie Harris, National Fire Adviser for Historic England,
called fire the greatest single risk to our cultural
heritage. Fire can cause devastating damage to a
historic building itself, as well as any priceless artefacts
housed inside.
Heritage and historic buildings were designed when modern fire
engineering standards did not exist, so they generally do not
meet the requirements of current regulations. Guidance on fire
safety in heritage buildings from LFB and fire heritage experts
advises that protecting people from fire while preserving a
building's historic character requires a balanced approach,
taking account of both fire safety and heritage conservation.
There have been several high-profile fires in historic/heritage
buildings in London in the recent past, including at Battersea
Arts Centre in 2015, at Grade II* listed St Mark's church in St
John's Wood in 2023, and Somerset House in 2024.3
Tomorrow, the London Assembly Fire
Committee will question various guests on the risk of
fire in heritage buildings.
Guests include:
Panel 1
-
Charles Harris, National Fire Adviser,
Historic England
-
Professor José L. Torero, Head of Department
of Civil, Environmental & Geomatic Engineering, UCL and
Fire Safety Engineer
Panel 2
-
Bob Bantock, Operational Risk Business Partner
(National Fire Specialist), National Trust
-
Mark Grover, Head of Estates & Facilities
Management, Royal Museums Greenwich
-
Mick Figg, Head of Buildings, Somerset House
Trust
The meeting will take place on Wednesday 21
October from 10am, in the
Chamber at City Hall, Kamal Chunchie Way, E16 1ZE.
Notes for Editors:
- Read the full agenda
