Station fire theory queried

Press, 1 December 1987, Page 10

Station fire theory queried

NZPA-AP London Three newspapers have expressed scepticism over claims by London subway officials that a discarded cigarette caused the November 18 *;ubway fire that killed 31 people. "Earlier reports that a dropped cigarette was the cause were being discounted,” investigative reporters of the "Insight” team of the' “Sunday Times” said. They quoted an unidentified fire expert as saying: "That theory is more convenient than probable.” The team suggested that a mechanical fault produced excessive fric-

tion that generated enough heat to start the blaze. Officials of London Regional Transport last week blamed an unknown smoker’s discarded cigarette for the fire on a wooden escalator at King’s Cross station. The fire was the worst in the 124-year history of the Underground. The day after the fire, union leaders at the station said because of economies imposed by the Government, which wanted to reduce subsidies to the subway, cleaning staff had been cut from 14 to two at King’s Cross.