Staffordshire inmates rack up £32k bill with prison fires

Fire chiefs have warned that someone could inhale a deadly amount of carbon monoxide in 60 seconds because of the confined space in cells.

There have been 131 fires caused by inmates since April 2013 and the rate of incidents is on the rise according to a report.

All incidents were started on purpose and originated from cigarette lighters or electric cables used for heating devices in cells.

Staffordshire has eight prisons including HMP Featherstone near Wolverhampton and HMP Stafford which are both Category C male prisons.

Next year a smoking ban will be introduced at four prisons in the country outside of Staffordshire and the Government is hoping to roll out the move to all lock-ups at some stage.

In just six months this year there have been 32 incidents at Staffordshire prisons compared to 46 in the whole of 2014/2015 although that figure had fallen by seven from the previous twelve months.

The fire service estimates each case costs around £250 to deal with meaning lags have racked up a £32,750 bill in two and half years.

Paul Shaw, officer at Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: "A fire started within a prison cell has great potential to cause harm to all relevant persons, these include the perpetrator, other inmates and prison staff.

"A serious fire would impact on the day to day running of the prison and has the potential to create significant business continuity issues within the prison post incident.

"A cell fire has the potential to place all relevant people in significant danger.

"A fire started in a prison cell will produce toxic fumes and smoke which can not be avoided due to the products of combustion.

"A fire has the potential to produce large quantities of carbon monoxide with fatal consequences.

"During a cell fire an average adult can inhale a fatal amount of carbon monoxide in less than one minute."

The fire service is working with the Crown Premises Inspection Group to address the problems and putting together a 'fire safety package' to be handed to inmates residing in the county's prisons.

Mr Shaw added: "A prison has been designed as a secure unit to prevent uncontrolled egress, therefore the means of escape are both restricted and complex in their design.

"A fire has the potential to affect the means of escape for all relevant persons, placing all concerned at significant risk of harm.

"Fire crews are placed at significant risk when mobilising, attending and dealing with this type of incident.

"This risk is increased during the evening/early morning periods when prison staff numbers are limited due to the lock down-phase."