A church organisation has pleaded guilty to breaches of fire safety legislation following a prosecution brought against them by the London Fire Brigade.
Mountain of Fire and Miracles International have been ordered to pay £30,000 in costs and fines after pleading guilty to three breaches of the Regulatory (Fire Safety) Order 2005 at Woolwich Crown Court on 24th July 2009.
A prohibition notice was issued to the church in June 2007 restricting the number of visitors to 600 on the ground floor of its premises at Crabtree Manorway South in Erith.
However, the fire brigade undertook an inspection of the premises in January 2008 and found there to be 1,200 people in the main hall during a service. One of the fire exits was blocked by a steel bar with another adjoining fire exit was chained and locked.
The inspection also found that there was an increased risk of an explosive and fast spreading fire due to the disorganised storage of 18 LPG and butane bottles and the use of naked flame heaters inside the main hall.
Assistant commissioner for fire safety regulation, Steve Turek, said: "It is regrettable that we had to bring this action against a charitable church organisation but there were significant fire safety failures."
"These offences presented a real risk of injury to the congregation who are our main concern. Church groups and others which organise large gatherings need to make sure their premises are fit for purpose and that they take their responsibility very seriously to ensure the safety to visitors."
Mountain of Fire and Miracles International have been ordered to pay £30,000 in costs and fines after pleading guilty to three breaches of the Regulatory (Fire Safety) Order 2005 at Woolwich Crown Court on 24th July 2009.
A prohibition notice was issued to the church in June 2007 restricting the number of visitors to 600 on the ground floor of its premises at Crabtree Manorway South in Erith.
However, the fire brigade undertook an inspection of the premises in January 2008 and found there to be 1,200 people in the main hall during a service. One of the fire exits was blocked by a steel bar with another adjoining fire exit was chained and locked.
The inspection also found that there was an increased risk of an explosive and fast spreading fire due to the disorganised storage of 18 LPG and butane bottles and the use of naked flame heaters inside the main hall.
Assistant commissioner for fire safety regulation, Steve Turek, said: "It is regrettable that we had to bring this action against a charitable church organisation but there were significant fire safety failures."
"These offences presented a real risk of injury to the congregation who are our main concern. Church groups and others which organise large gatherings need to make sure their premises are fit for purpose and that they take their responsibility very seriously to ensure the safety to visitors."
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