At approximately 11.30pm on Tuesday September 13 the Isle of Man Fire and Rescue Service was called to a fire that had broken out at a Douglas Borough Council-owned property, flat 55, Murray’s House, Lord Street, Douglas. The tenants of the first-floor flat were taken to Noble’s Hospital and treated for smoke inhalation and shock where they currently remain. Tenants of the other flats in the block were evacuated to the Sea Terminal while a Council stand-by officer and electrical services section representative checked the block’s fire alarm and emergency lighting systems after the fire had been extinguished. Residents were then returned to their homes at approximately 2am on Wednesday, September 14. While no structural damage appears to have been caused to the building, flat 55 suffered extensive fire damage and once its tenants have been discharged from hospital they will be found alternative temporary accommodation. Isle of Man Fire and Rescue Service continues to investigate the cause of the fire which is, as yet, unknown. Meanwhile, during the course of Wednesday September 14 the Council’s acting housing manager and a Fire and Rescue Service community liaison officer visited as many of the Lord Street flats to which they could gain access to reassure tenants and review their fire prevention measures. Findings from the visits have revealed that in more than half of the properties visited, tenants had wedged open or disabled the self-closing mechanisms on the internal doors. Both Douglas Borough Council and Isle of Man Fire and Rescue Service wish to make it clear to all tenants of flats that doors should not be wedged open or the closers removed as they serve to contain the fire and stop it spreading, not only to other rooms but also to adjacent properties. Disabled tenants may request exemption, however this can only be granted by Isle of Man Fire and Rescue Service and applies to the tenant(s) not the property. The Council’s Public Health and Housing Committee Chairman Councillor Carol Malarkey said: ‘Isle of Man Fire and Rescue Service officers and Council staff are to be praised for their prompt action and I am relieved to learn that the tenants of flat 55 are recovering in hospital. ‘In partnership with the Fire Service the Council is rigorous in making statutory fire prevention checks to all its properties. In support of this we would ask tenants to be vigilant about their domestic fire precaution measures and urge those in flats and apartments - for their and their neighbours’ safety – not to disable the self-closing mechanisms on their internal doors. I would also commend tenants and private householders alike to visit Isle of Man Fire and Rescue Service’s excellent website – www.iomfire.com – which contains invaluable fire safety advice.’ ENDS