FOI Request 2061

Subject: Non-Fire Incident at New Chester Market on 27th January 2024

Status: Complete

Date received: October 2024

Question Asked:

I am writing requesting as much information as possible regarding the ‘Non-Fire’ incident that occurred at the New Chester Market on January 27th 2024.

Please comment on the following:

• Was there risk to the public and was the action taken (ringing fire and evacuating) the correct course of action.

• Circa 13:30pm was the site ready to be opened to the public subject to signing off by the duty officer

• What were the reasons the site remained closed for the rest of the day.

• What remedial action was required by the Market management before the site would be allowed to be open to the public

• Are there any instructions, recommendations the management are expected to comply with

Our Response:

The Freedom of Information Act 2000 only covers information that has been recorded. It does not cover opinions or requests for comments, so we are unable to answer some of your questions.

As you will appreciate the incident in question was confirmed as a False Alarm Non-Fire incident, so the information recorded from a Fire perspective is limited.

The information provided below is a transcript of the log that refers to the Non-Fire incident. I hope this assists:

Freedom of Information request 2061

I did not attend the operational incident you have requested information on, but I have reviewed the messages from the scene.

I can confirm that Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service mobilised to the New Chester Market on Hunter Street, Chester, CH1 2AR, on the 27/01/24.

The incident type we were initially mobilised was categorised as Hazardous Material >> Haz mat major. The first appliance in attendance was Chesters’s 2nd appliance callsign E09P2. This appliance arrived within our Cheshire standard of 10 mins from the call being received by Northwest Fire control.

Prior to arrival of our assets Cheshire Police updated us via Northwest Fire Control that people could be seen running from the Market. Cheshire Fire crews were also updated by NWFC that there was a smell of smoke in the building.

Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service on arrival saw no signs of smoke or fire and deployed 4 Firefighters in breathing apparatus to investigate the building, Fire Service staff activated the fire alarm to aid in the evacuation of the building. Trauma care was given by Fire Service staff to one member of the public who was outside the building coughing.

A Major incident standby message was sent by Northwest Ambulance, this is a standard multiagency response to large incidents.

It then became apparent that the cause of this discomfort to people was due to the cooking of chili’s within the market building.

The single casualty did not attend hospital, but was assessed and discharged at the scene by the Northwest Ambulance Service.

The Major incident standby was then stood down.

The cause of the incident was confirmed by the Officer in charge as a False Alarm Good Intent caused by the cooking of Chili’s in an open kitchen.

The incident was then handed over to the responsible person of the site.

Outcome: Information Provided

FOI responded to within timescales: YES

Further action: NO