A Blackburn company director has avoided jail after failing to install proper fire safety equipment in a building where a man later died.
The fire started at Smart Auto Part Ltd in Blackburn in April 2021, which was owned by Syed Shahzad Haider, and engulfed the 50m by 30m car parts breakers and workshop building. The building contained 16 vehicles and a forklift truck.
Intensified by the presence of acetylene and LPG cylinders and an asbestos sheet roof, the blaze caused devastation to the structure and its contents.
Four days later, firefighters found the body of Waqas Quershi in a collapsed section of the building.
A fire safety investigation launched by Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service on April 30 2021 uncovered multiple serious deficiencies at the premises, including there being no suitable fire alarm system and blocked and inadequate escape routes.
Additionally, there was a lack of emergency lighting, an absence of staff fire safety trained and no fire risk assessment.
READ MORE: Huge plumes of smoke seen across Blackburn
READ MORE: Man who died in car garage fire was not found for 4 days
Area manager Matthew Hamer said: “This tragic incident highlights the devastating consequences of neglecting fire safety responsibilities. These breaches contributed to the tragic death of Mr Waqas Qureshi and our thoughts are with his family at this time.
“Every business has a duty to protect its staff and the public. The outcome of this case should serve as a stark reminder that fire safety is not optional — it is a legal and moral obligation.”
On May 22, Haider, 50, of Oswald Avenue, Grangemouth, pleaded guilty at Preston Crown Court to several breaches of Regulatory Reform.
He received a nine-month sentence, suspended for 18 months and was told to complete 100 hours of unpaid work and a payment of costs for breaching The Regulatory Reform Act 2005.
Share