LANDLORDS in Cambridgeshire have been warned to take fire safety seriously after the jailing of a man in Norfolk. The warning follows a court case in which a judge jailed a landlord for 30 months following a house fire which almost killed a female tenant.

LANDLORDS in Cambridgeshire have been warned to take fire safety seriously after the jailing of a man in Norfolk.

The warning follows a court case in which a judge jailed a landlord for 30 months following a house fire which almost killed a female tenant.

Fire safety manager Brenan Morgan, from Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: "Although the incident was in Norfolk, it could easily have happened here. We are concerned that a minority of landlords in our county continue to put people's lives at risk due to a cavalier attitude to fire safety matters."

This year, the Cambridgeshire service has already issued seven prohibition notices to places with sleeping accommodation due to things like an inadequate means of escape for tenants and a lack of fire detection systems, even a simple smoke alarm.

"The fire in Norfolk left the tenant suffering 80 per cent burns and it is a miracle she is still alive as she was only given a one per cent chance of survival," added Mr Morgan.

"The building had a catalogue of fire safety deficiencies, including the two most common we see in Cambridgeshire - the lack of a working fire alarm system, and an inadequate means of escaping from the building.

"Over the last 12 months there has been a steep increase of enforcement action taken against this type of premises. If landlords have any doubt as to their legal obligations they should contact the local council or the Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service."

www.cambsfire .gov.uk