Claims by Building magazine that Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service (OF&RS) has singled out timber frame house residents for a leaflet campaign highlighting the potential fire risk of their homes have been refuted by the fire brigade.

The article quoted OF&RS risk support manager Steve Wain who attended the recent British Research Establishment (BRE) and Chiltern International Fire seminar “Understanding Fire Risks in Combustible Cavities”. It followed a previous Building article from the same seminar (TTJ August 3/10) which questioned UK timber frame’s fire safety.

The latest Building story has also been picked up by Sunday Telegraph correspondent Jeff Howell who asks “Are timber framed houses a fire risk”?

Mr Wain said he had a conversation with the Building reporter at the BRE seminar. He added: “I’m not happy with him. He has not reported things in a rational way and has started a number of hares running that we now have to dispel.”

&#8220Building has not reported things in a rational way and has started a number of hares running that we now have to dispel”

Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service risk support manager Steve Wain

If OF&RS conducts an educational programme this autumn, Mr Wain said it would be aimed at all forms of construction in the area. He added: “It has been suggested that we have a particular interest in timber frame construction and its performance in fire. We are only interested in it as more timber frame houses are built in our area and it is important firefighters are knowledgeable about this form of construction and are trained to deal as effectively with fire in timber frame as in any other form of construction.”

Dr Chris Gill, chairman of the Chiltern International Fire consultancy, said: “We were concerned to read the comments attributed to OF&RS in Building. We understand that these have been misattributed or Steve Wain has been wrongly reported. We, and the UK Timber Frame Association, are keen to work with OF&RS to ensure a sensible approach to fire safety.”

And Bryan Woodley, chief executive at the UKTFA, said Mr Wain had assured him that any educational campaign OF&RS runs would cover fire safety in all types of construction.