Forensic scientists rule out arson as cause of Wick sauna fire
THE fire at the sauna at East Caithness Community Campus appears to have been started accidentally, with no evidence of foul play discovered.
It was most likely to have been caused by the ignition of a combustible item, according to a report written by Manchester-based forensic scientists Hawkins.
The report, which has been seen by the Caithness Courier, discounts the possibility of the fire being started by an electrical fault and found nothing to suggest it had been started deliberately.
It stated: “Based on the patterns of fire damage, there is little doubt that the fire was seated at the north-east side of the sauna in the area of the sauna heater.
“All of the direct fire damage was confined to that side of the sauna cabin.”
The author, whose name was redacted, concluded: “I have considered and discounted the possibility that the fire was a result of an incendive electrical fault with the sauna heater because there was no fire damage to any of the sauna’s electrical components.
“In my opinion, the fire was most likely the result of the ignition of a combustible item by heat from the sauna heater.
“It is possible that the heater was installed too close to the timber cladding or false wall.
“The manufacturer’s installation and operation manual stipulates a minimum separation distance to combustible materials of 10 millimetres above the heater and 45 millimetres to the rear of the heater.”
Due to the extent of clearance works carried out before the investigation, it was not possible to determine how close any timber might have been to the heater.
“It is possible that a user of the sauna has put a combustible item, such as a towel, in contact with the heater,” the report said.
“For completeness, I have considered the possibility that the fire was started deliberately but I found no evidence to support such a cause.”
The sauna is not expected to re-open until next month.
That is the timescale required to get the materials and carry out the repairs.
The report on the cause of the fire on Friday, July 14 has been handed over to Highland Council and has been made available to Wick Stakeholder Group.