A wood recycling firm in North London has been prosecuted and fined for exceeding the fire service requirements to limit the size and volume of stacks of combustible materials.

The prosecution follows a similar previous prosecution, when the premises were inspected after a major fire. The fire caused the closure of nearby railway lines and a number of roads, including the A406 and the M1. At the height of the incident around 100 fire fighters and 20 fire engines were needed to control the blaze in Cricklewood. Fire fighting activities went on for four days, and the site was closely monitored by the fire service afterwards.

An inspecting officer visited the premises in September 2007 and established that the size of the stacks exceeded fire service requirements. In two instances the the size limits were exceeded by a significant degree. As the offences were committed very soon after the previous conviction, the company was fined the maximum and were ordered to pay the fire brigade costs.

London Fire Brigade Assistant Commissioner Max Hood said ” All employers are reminded that those responsible for properties and premises need to abide by the law and carry out proper fire risk assessments and regular reviews “.