Following a major fire in 2007 that required mass evacuation of the hospital, Paul was the lead officer investigating the cause of the fire and its rapid growth, as well as the very rapid spread of smoke through the building (within five minutes of first detection the fire was being detected nine stories above the seat of origin). Paul worked with the Local Authority and NHS Trust to design a fire strategy to provide suitable fire compartmentation within time and budget constraints, as well as development of life safety systems and management practices to significantly reduce the risk.