A CARE home in Burnham-on-Sea has been fined £100,000 for breaching fire safety regulations at a house used for staff accommodation.

Almondsbury Care Ltd, of Berrow Road, appeared at Taunton Magistrates Court on March 30 accused of five offences under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.

As well as the fine, the company was also ordered to pay £9,685.50 costs and a £120 victim surcharge after pleading guilty to the offences, which included failing to ensure the premises could be evacuated quickly in an emergency.

The charges were brought by the Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service(DSFRS) after an inspection of Richmond House that was being used by Almondsbury Care Ltd to provide sleeping and living accommodation for nurses and other agency staff working in the adjacent nursing home owned by the company.

A DSFRS spokesman said: “As officers walked around the premises it soon became evident the fire safety provisions fell far below the appropriate standard for a premises being used in such a manner.”

He said the inspection revealed a number of failings including: a failure to provide sufficient fire detection and warning systems, a lack of fire doors and a fire exit door that would not open.

In summing up, the judge said the premises had a whole range of failures that should have been “abundantly obvious to anyone who chose to think about it”.

DSFRS business safety manager, Paul Bray, said: “It was extremely fortunate that a fire did not occur at these premises.

“Almondsbury Care Ltd would have been well aware of the need to implement suitable fire safety measures yet failed to ensure the safety of those working for their company.

“The severity of the fines imposed by the court gives out a clear message to those who show a disregard for those they have a duty to protect.”

Almondsbury Care declined to comment.