A business owner from Thame has been sentenced following multiple breaches of fire safety legislation that were found to have endangered lives.

ZDZISLAW FIRCOWICZ, who owned a kitchen worktop manufacturing business, received an eight-month custodial sentence, suspended for 18 months, and was ordered to complete 150 hours of unpaid work. He was also instructed to pay £2,500 in costs.

The case was heard at Oxford Crown Court on 15 September 2025, following an earlier conviction at Oxford Magistrates’ Court on 24 July.

Fire safety inspectors from Oxfordshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service visited the premises in February 2023 and identified significant failings. These included a lack of a suitable fire risk assessment, inadequate protection of escape routes, and the absence of a working fire alarm and detection system.

The inspectors also discovered that employees were being allowed to sleep on a mezzanine floor in the industrial unit without any appropriate fire safety measures in place.

A fire safety audit under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 found the premises so dangerous that a Prohibition Notice was issued, immediately prohibiting the use of the building for sleeping until essential safety improvements were made.

An investigation led to Fircowicz being found guilty of four separate breaches of fire safety legislation.

‘Unfair advantage’

Councillor Jenny Hannaby, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Community Services and Safety, said:
“Businesses that ‘cut corners’ not only put the public and environment at risk, but also gain an unfair advantage over their competitors. This is made even worse when it relates to such important fire safety requirements.”

Jody Kerman, Head of Oxfordshire County Council’s Prevention, Protection and Trading Standards teams, added:
“Through the use of both targeted inspections and from acting on complaints, our fire safety inspectors are finding an increasing number of businesses where there is unsafe and inappropriate sleeping accommodation and a lack of fire safety measures being implemented. This is a very dangerous mix and, as this case shows, we will not hesitate to take action to ensure the safety of occupants, residents and customers.”

Issuing of a Prohibition Notice restricts the use of any premises providing accommodation that does not meet the accepted standards of fire safety. Business owners and employers – defined as ‘Responsible Persons’ under the legislation – have a legal Duty of Care to ensure any accommodation they provide is safe and suitable.

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