Soho Fire London

[back2space]

Been catchin up on the news and came across this article:

http://www.thelondonpaper.com/thelondonpaper/news/soho-counts-the-cost-of-major-blaze-in-dean-street

"A witness said he had spoken to the building’s owner: "He told me the fire started because of a short circuit in the air-conditioning. Ironically the air con was due to be replaced because they knew it needed fixing and said they were going to get a new one."

Looking at the pics appears they had splits and VRF's as you can see the outdoor units:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2493/3706843623_a62f4f265b_m.jpg
http://yourphotos.sky.com/Uploads/PhotoBoards_Main_1007200918346775.JPG
http://yourphotos.sky.com/Uploads/PhotoBoards_Main_10072009175945108.JPG

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2511/3716766046_372f612cb5.jpg?v=0
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/46041000/jpg/_46041597_benwilliams2_766.jpg
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/46041000/jpg/_46041596_benwilliams1_766.jpg


Very first picture taken at the rear of the building you can see the VRF units.

Last picture seems to be taken at the rear of the building from another roof, notice all the splits on the roof next door, these were all destroyed by the fire it seems.

Just wondered if anyone else had come across anything similar before with buildings on fire and a/c as the main suspect.

Would this sort of building had fan coil units or ducted systems being such an old building?

[Grizzly]

Hi Backtospace.
Interesting post, quite scary if you think about it.
I bet it involves synthetic oils!
Thanks for your efforts to show us!
Appreciated.
Grizzly

[back2space]

Hi Backtospace.
Interesting post, quite scary if you think about it.
I bet it involves synthetic oils!
Thanks for your efforts to show us!
Appreciated.
Grizzly


No worries ive found it interesting glad no one was hurt but makes u think it happened on a warm day in London so the air con was on. Will it have conttinued to run through the fire??? WHo knows?

[Brian_UK]

Unfortunately a 'short circuit' can be caused by anything electrical whether it was about to be replaced or brand new.

A local 'witness' always knows more than the forensic specialist from the fire brigade of course, especially if the paper asking the question is the Sun :D

[Peter_1]

Was this fire on Friday afternoon?
You may believe it or not but I was in the vicinity that day. We saw the smoke and wondered what happened.

[back2space]

Was this fire on Friday afternoon?
You may believe it or not but I was in the vicinity that day. We saw the smoke and wondered what happened.

Yes it was started about 14:15 in the afternoon!

[back2space]

Unfortunately a 'short circuit' can be caused by anything electrical whether it was about to be replaced or brand new.

A local 'witness' always knows more than the forensic specialist from the fire brigade of course, especially if the paper asking the question is the Sun :D

This is true but I look forward to hearing about the cause of the fire. Must have been something serious for a fan coil unit to set on fire, the casings are suppose to be flame resistant aernt they!

[Makeit go Right]

The aircon units (particularly the vrf) seem to be close to the source but not actually where the fire seems to be burning. Was it one of those news reporters who 'thought he heard someone say it was a short on an aircon unit?'

About the best thing you can deduce from all of this is that there was a fire, and the fire brigade or whoever, will trace it down to the actual source and we will hear about it in a few months or so. And don't be surprised to hear it was a cigarette thrown out of a window, landing on some rubbish that should have been cleared away.

Nice pics, though.

[philfridge]

Need to find the name of the firm maintaining the air con unit that caught fire, so we can check them out with refcom and quidos then report back . This sort of thing wouldn't happen with registration.:)

[Clk320_Greg]

Need to find the name of the firm maintaining the air con unit that caught fire, so we can check them out with refcom and quidos then report back . This sort of thing wouldn't happen with registration.:)

And while you do that ill whip in a size up for a quote on a new system with fire shut off LOL

[back2space]

The aircon units (particularly the vrf) seem to be close to the source but not actually where the fire seems to be burning. Was it one of those news reporters who 'thought he heard someone say it was a short on an aircon unit?'

About the best thing you can deduce from all of this is that there was a fire, and the fire brigade or whoever, will trace it down to the actual source and we will hear about it in a few months or so. And don't be surprised to hear it was a cigarette thrown out of a window, landing on some rubbish that should have been cleared away.

Nice pics, though.


There are other pictures later showing the VRF outdoor units on fire also as the fire spread from the basement up as well.

I guess the fire started inside with the fan coil units.

Regards
Richard.

[Brian_UK]

So much supposition and no facts available yet but hey, let's shoot someone anyway.

[Peter_1]

I was in the vicinity and I'm not supposed to be there :eek:

[grahamgfm]

Hi Backtospace.
Interesting post, quite scary if you think about it.
I bet it involves synthetic oils!
Thanks for your efforts to show us!
Appreciated.
Grizzly
Yes, I,m just glad I didnt work on that building. Phew! Intresting that you think synthetic oils are involved. What are your reasons behind this?

[back2space]

Yeh the building is gutted all the floors fell through so I bet this makes the fire investigation harder.