Video: Vacuum cleaner to blame for Cutty Sark fire

11:30am Tuesday 30th September 2008

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A FIRE which ravaged the Cutty Sark in May last year was caused by a faulty vacuum cleaner, according to investigators.

A report by the Met, London Fire Brigade and Forensic Science Services found an industrial vacuum, left on for two days, sparked a fire which caused £10m worth of damage to the 19th-century ship.

Speaking at a press conference today (September 30), Detective Chief Inspector Dave Garwood, of the Met, who led the investigation, said the fire was not started deliberately despite reports a man had been seen climbing the perimeter fence shortly before.

He said: "Our initial enquiries focussed on this sighting. But the man seen scaling the fence was a carpenter who came back to the site to collect his tools.

"The investigation found no evidence that the ship was subjected to an arson attack.

"It is our view that the cause of the fire was accidental and we believe the most likely cause of the fire was the failure of an industrial vacuum cleaner."

Mr Garwood said the machine did not have a vital cut-off switch which prevents overheating if the suction hose becomes blocked.

He also criticised two security guards, who have since been fired, for not noticing the fire sooner, and said more regular fire safety checks could have prevented the vacuum from being left on over the weekend.

Meanwhile, chief executive of the Cutty Sark Trust, Richard Doughty, said the fire has delayed restoration of the ship, but that it should be ready by the summer of 2010.

He said: "The total cost of the restoration is probably around £35m now but it could have been worse. We came close to losing the ship.

"There is something so inspiring about the Cutty Sark and the public have been so supportive since the fire.

"Some children have even sent me their pocket money to help with the repairs."

More than 40 firefighters tackled the Cutty Sark fire in the early hours of May 21 last year. The fire damaged large sections of all three decks and buckled the iron frame.

• A similar vacuum was tested to replicate what is thought to have happened in the Cutty Sark blaze - watch the video