A FIRE safety expert is leading a study into the risk historic buildings face from blazes.

PhD student Henry Landis’ study into incidents at 375,000 heritage buildings over the last 12 years follows devastating fires at Notre Dame in Paris this week, and the Mackintosh building in Glasgow last summer.

The research, which is being under taken at Glasgow Caledonian University, aims to prevent further heritage being lost.

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Landis believes listed properties are up to three times more likely to be affected by blazes, but says this is not fully recognised in regulation and fire safety practice.

The former firefighter, who served with Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service for 30 years, said these recent fires had generated a lot of emotion.

“These are more than just buildings, they are a tangible connection to our past and those who have gone before us.

“We need to do more to take care of our heritage and my research aims to change the way we think about fire risk in old buildings.”

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Landis expects the research, which will take several years, will provide evidence necessary to tighten regulations and make sure good practice in looking after the country’s heritage is shared more widely.

He continued: “I am never going to be able to pinpoint which buildings are going to burn down next. But I would hope to spot patterns – like the number of fire incidents affecting historic buildings which are being renovated, like Notre Dame cathedral.

“That appears to be a common theme, but looking through news reports is currently of more use to researchers than the official fire data.

“If my study can help change things, then I will have made a real difference now, and also for people who will continue to enjoy these buildings in the future.”

Dr Iain Sanderson, who is supervising Landis’s PhD, said: “Fire crews responding to an incident don’t always know if it’s a heritage building at risk until they get there – by which time it might be too late to get the right equipment and support in place.”

He added the work would help crews identify listed buildings faster.

“His long career in the fire service gives him significant background knowledge which will help him take on a project of this scale and national importance,” he continued.