Firefighters are still at the scene of a factory fire in Leicester, which broke out on Thursday morning (7th August). At its height, Leicestershire Fire Service had 10 engines at the scene and they expect to remain there today as they continue to put out the flames.

Demolition workers have been clearing debris after the building, next to a petrol station, completely collapsed. More than 200 homes in the area were evacuated.

The fire destroyed the four-storey former factory along with a number of businesses, which rented space inside the property, including a furniture warehouse and textiles company.

Police told the BBC that no-one had been injured and that fire service investigators will enter the building "when it is safe to do so".

Saif Choudhury, whose family owns the building, said: "It's like my heart's been taken out of my body, it's horrible. That business is finished. That's our livelihood."

Roads in the immediate area remained closed this morning.

Commercial buildings, non-domestic and multi-occupancy premises in England and Wales are already forced to undertake a 'suitable and sufficient' fire risk assessment carried out under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.

While the overwhelming majority of premises do this, if the assessment is thought to have been carried out to an insufficient extent, the Responsible Person can face an unlimited fine or up to two years in prison.

Original source

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leicestershire-28701444