What happened to the Fairfield Nursing Home, Nottingham, UK - 1972

In July 1972 a fire broke out in the Fairfield Nursing Home, Nottingham. The number of fatalities is unconfirmed but smoke inhalation was the primary cause for those who did tragically lose their lives.

Fairfield Nursing Home was a complex of five single storey buildings, all linked together. The construction method was a steel frame with a ceiling spanning all buildings generating a void of some 21 inches deep. The escape corridors had perforated ceiling tiles.

How did the Fairfield Nursing Home fire start?

The source of ignition is unknown however the fire started in house one and spread quickly to house four via an open smoke path through the ceiling void and open doors.

What can the industry learn from the Fairfield Nursing Home fire?

Investigation into the incident concluded:
 

• On the night of the fire there were 50 residents; 16 men and 34 women, many of whom were over 80 years old. Some required mobility assistance such as wheelchairs while some were given sedatives at night
• There was only one care assistant in attendance
• There was a limited amount of fire stopping between the window cavities
• The manual fire alarm system was in operation but had no automatic detection
• There was no water sprinkler system installed
• Fire doors were wedged open using handheld extinguishers and wooden floor wedges
• Fire spread occurred through combustible materials and mattress stuffing

Recommendations were made to improve staff training, management policies, procedures and the use of combustible materials.