HC Deb 19 May 1988 vol 133 c530W
Sir John Farr

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence to what extent the buildings destroyed in the fire in the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation store at Donnington on 25 April were protected by sprinklers.

Mr. Freeman

[holding answer 9 May 1988]: Sprinklers were not installed in the building destroyed by fire at COD Donnington on 25 April.

Sir John Farr

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the recommendations made by the Army board of inquiry after the fire at a 10-acre Army store at Donnington on 24 June 1983 indicating(a) those which were put into effect, (b) those not acted upon and (c) the reason why no action was taken in those cases.

Mr. Freeman

[holding answer 9 May 1988]: The board of inquiry recommended that the water supplies for fire fighting at COD Donnington should be enhanced; depot fire orders should be reviewed; the use of polypropylene strapping should be reviewed; constant checks to enforce discipline and ensure compliance with regulations should be applied; hose reels should be installed inside high-rise storage sheds in addition to hand extinguishers; fire advice should be obtained at the initial planning stages for the provision of storage facilities either in new buildings or by new methods in existing buildings; feasibility studies into the provision of compartmentation, sprinkler and detection systems should be carried out before decisions were made about the replacement of building B6; Army fire service personnel should be given guidance and training on fighting fires in high storage buildings; certain measures in respect of the security arrangements at COD Donnington should be taken; in any future similar investigation decisions which may affect the disciplinary process of either military personnel or civilian staff should be taken by the appropriate senior military officer; the storage arrangements for stores which could represent a health hazard should be examined by appropriately trained depot safety officers; and that a record should be made of those who might have encountered a health hazard connected with the fire. All these recommendations were acted upon.