Henderson Hall fire sparks push for fire safety awareness two years after the blaze

The Henderson Hall fire has sparked greater awareness on fire safety in the form of a short film.

Previously used as student accommodation for Newcastle University students, the building was heavily damaged by a fire in 2023.

Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service (TWFRS) has since produced Just a Normal Day, a short film based on the burning of the hall. Featuring accounts from fire investigators and youth justice workers, it aims to deter others from setting deliberate fires.

A derelict building owned by Newcastle University, Henderson Hall was set alight by two 17-year-old males in June 2023. The two teenagers entered the building  through a damaged window and set fire to a shower curtain, recording what they were doing on their phones.

The fire spread throughout the building, leaving it without a roof and causing around £15m worth of damage. Both teens were arrested and have been sentenced, one with a six month detention, the other with a four month detention.

Deliberate fire setting takes up a significant portion of Fire and Rescue Services time and resources, with fire fighters from TWFRS responding to 683 deliberate fires between October 17th and November 17th last year. This is nearly 700 incidents of fire fighters being called to entirely preventable fires, reducing their capacity to respond to other life-threatening emergencies.

While Henderson Hall had long stood empty, the fire left the building severely damaged and was deemed unsafe following the incident.

The push for further fire safety among the public comes ahead of the increase in fires expected during the Bonfire Night period.

Firefighters tackling the blaze June 2023, via YouTube

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Rob Bosson, the Chief Inspector of Northumbria Police said: “We hope everyone across the North East enjoys the upcoming Bonfire Night period. As always, we’ll be working closely with our partners during this time to deal with any issues as they arise and to proactively prevent any disorder from occurring.

“But we’d also like to ask people to exercise some personal responsibility around what they are doing and how it might affect those who may not feel as comfortable with the darker nights. As a Force, our priority is to keep the public safe and our multi-agency operation is in place to do just this.

“Anybody who is concerned about anti-social behaviour in their area is asked to report it to us by speaking to an officer on patrol, by sending us a direct message on our social media channels, or by getting in touch on our website. If a crime is ongoing, always call 999.”

Featured image via YouTube