The cause of a huge fire at K Laundry in Ramsgate last July remains unknown due to ‘insufficient evidence.’
An investigation into the blaze, which at its height was tackled by crews on 12 fire engines, a bulk water carrier and the height vehicle, came up with three potential causes, information for which has not been released, but was unable to find enough supporting evidence for a conclusion. The investigation is now closed.
Firefighters spent 31 hours at the incident in Northwood Road which they were called to at 4.28am on July 23.
Crews worked throughout the night damping down the scene and eventually finished at 11.15am on July 24. Additionally, KFRS carried out a after a number of scheduled revisits to ensure all hotspots had been extinguished. The last revisit was completed at 3.30pm on July 27. The property was destroyed by the blaze.
A Kent Fire & Rescue Service spokesperson said: “Crews attended a large well-developed fire at a building used as a commercial laundry. Crew contained the fire to footprint of building.
“{The) main building and attached offices were 100% damaged by fire.
“The incident handover form was completed, discussed and passed to the responsible person.
“On scene fire investigation was conducted including on scene discussions with Hawkins Forensic Scientist.
“Due to the large scale of damage and structural instability, limited scene excavation was possible. Both parties agreed lack of substantial evidence provided an indeterminate outcome as to the cause and origin of the fire.”
The commercial laundry and linen hire specialist was founded in 1928 and still operated from the original site.
It was sold by Clive Jones – grandson of the founders- in 2022 to Essex firm Belmont Laundry after he took the decision to retire,
One wonders if this site will now become a block of flats as the nw owners will have been transporting all thanet customers business to its main premises. The new company however did not continue with some hospitality customers such as Air Bnb as the company preferred to hire out their own products.
You have to wonder . That site is worth far more as residential than as a laundrette.
Godden Bennett! Another mysterious fire in Thanet. We really are so unlucky in this area!
I heard that the new company had invested a lot of money into the site, so seems unlikely they would have wanted anything to go wrong. I believe it had moved some if it’s Essex business down here as it’s cheaper to run….so I’ve heard.
Internal combustion. Can happen when freshly ironed linen is stacked.
So founded in 1928, no fires – they sell up and retire and it self combusts?
Sounds like someone has good knowledge of Forensics to cover their tracks.