On the morning of the 21st May 2007 the Cutty Sark, which had been closed and partly dismantled for conservation work, caught fire and burned for several hours before the London Fire Brigade could bring the fire under control.
Peter Mansi (now of FI UK) was the manager of the London Fire Brigade team of fire investigators that were sent to determine the area of origin and subsequently the most probable cause of the fire, which turned out to be an industrial vacuum cleaner.
Peter Mansi, along with Dr Nick Carey of his team, was able to determine a satisfactory conclusion as to the origin, cause and development of the fire.
BRE carried out an investigation into the fire, the findings of which were the basis for fire safety recommendations for the preservation of historic ships.
