Fire still remains a major threat to any High Street cleaning business and in spite of hikes in insurance rates, warnings in the trade press and by the Guild of Cleaners & Launderers over recent years the incidence of fire has not diminished with currently around two fires a week in the UK alone. The cost of even a relatively small, contained fire should not be underestimated. If customers’ clothes are smoke damaged or burned it may result in temporary closure of the business the impact of which on customer confidence can lead to a loss of turnover that may result in permanent closure. Even if a business recovers from a fire it may well find that in future renewal rates for fire cover are unaffordable.