Sheffield landlord convicted after firefighter fell through floor

A Sheffield landlord whose tenants were said to have narrowly avoided being killed in a block of flats fire has been given a suspended prison sentence.

In total, 11 people were trapped in the three-storey building on Brook Hill, Broomhall, in the early hours of February 25, 2022, with no fire alarms installed to warn residents.

The only tenants of the stairwell in the apartments could use partially collapsed during the fire, resulting in a firefighter falling down the stairs.

At Sheffield Crown Court, Zahir Ahmed, of Bannerdale Road, admitted six fire safety charges and was jailed for six months suspended for 18 months.

Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus stayed with the residents until the fire could be extinguished and the property ventilated, the fire service said.

Fire inspectors found no emergency lighting, poor quality fire doors and no ventilation in the stairwell.

At an earlier hearing, Ahmed admitted six charges of failing to comply with sections of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.

On Thursday, Ahmed was told to carry out 250 hours of community service and ordered to pay £10,000 in prosecution costs.

Judge Graham Robinson found there was a real risk of serious harm to people during the incident, South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service said.

“Mr Ahmed had a willful disregard for the safety of individuals,” he said.

“There was a terrible fire which resulted in a firefighter falling down the stairs – it could have been catastrophic and in my view it was a near fatal fire.”

Deputy Fire Chief Andy Strelczenie said there could have been “a catastrophic outcome” had it not been for firefighters.

“Due to the lack of fire safety systems and management within this premises, it was extremely fortuitous in this case that people did not die,” he said.