A joint investigation into the 2007 Cutty Sark fire has concluded that the most likely cause was the failure of an industrial vacuum cleaner that had inadvertently been left switched on for 48 hours before the fire started on 21 May last year.
The findings were revealed at a press conference held at New Scotland Yard today (Tuesday 30 September) and mark the end of a painstaking investigation by the Metropolitan Police Service, London Fire Brigade and Forensic Science Services, working with electrical examination experts Dr Burgoyne’s & Partners LLP.
Physical evidence and CCTV footage of the fire show that it probably started towards the stern of the ship on the lower deck after the failure of a motor inside the industrial vacuum cleaner that was being used to remove waste from the ship as part of a renovation programme. Investigations suggest that the equipment had been left running throughout the weekend before the fire broke out the following Monday.
On the basis of witness evidence, the joint investigation team considered it unlikely that the fire was caused by the hot work that was being carried out as part of the renovation or by carelessly discarded smokers' materials. The report also reveals that there was no evidence that the ship was subjected to an arson attack and concludes that the fire was started accidentally.
Note to editors:
For a copy of the report click on the link below:
http://www.london-fire.gov.uk//CuttySarkFireReport-29Sep08.pdf
Members of the media can obtain further information from the press office on:
telephone number: 020 8536 5922
email: press@london-fire.gov.uk
