East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service
Achieving safer and more sustainable communities

"Fire may start at anytime, anywhere, for reasons you do not expect!"  Nero (Great fire of Rome)

This Black Museum has been created to highlight key safety messages from real fires.

Coming soon

We will be introducing classifications to make it easier to find case studies that interest you.

Black Museum Cases

• Accidental ignition of petrol vapour
• Arson
• Burning ember from chimney igniting thatch
• Cable theft
• Carelessly discarded cigarette
• Carelessly discarded smoking materials
• Chemical decomposition by the action of heat
• Child playing with a disposable lighter
• Chinese Lantern burning fuel cell
• Chip pan fire
• Cutlery in a dishwasher
• Electrical defect or overheating of electric desk fan
• Electrical overload of an extension cable drum
• Electric heater accidentaly switched on
• Failure of Lithium Polymer rechargeable batteries
• Faulty domestic consumer unit ('fuse box')
• Faulty electrical supply cut out fuse
• Faulty integrated dishwasher
• Fire caused by a malfunctioning jumbo lighter
• Focussed sunlight from a vanity mirror
• Forest fire, unattended BBQ
• Gas escaping from a camping gas cylinder
• Ignition bedding due to the wheat bag overheating
• Lightning strike
• Lithium Polymer (LiPo) rechargeable battery on charge
• Magnifying glass left on a window sill
• Mobility scooter (possible electrical fault)
• Overheating a Wheat Bag
• Oxygen Rich fires
• Potting compost in a planter
• Refilling of a Bio Ethanol ornamental burner
• Smouldering dry peat in a terracotta plant pot
• Spontaneous combustion of linseed oil
• Unattended candles
• Unattended hair straighteners
• Wood burning stove in a Mongolian Yurt

This Black Museum will continue to grow as we carry out future investigations where important lessons can be learnt about how to stay safe from fire.

Come back regularly for the latest cases and safety information.