Residents say no fire alarms sounded as terrifying blaze ripped through block of flats

By Tara O’Connor, Local Democracy Reporter

Residents whose block of flats caught fire have said they only knew it was happening when neighbours knocked on their doors and passers-by shouted for them to leave the building.

Residents of Hallam Court in Whitehorse Road, Croydon, said no fire alarms in communal areas sounded when the fire took hold on Wednesday evening.

It came just a week after they had sent a letter to housing association Southern Housing, a merger of Southern Housing group and Optivo, raising their concerns with the block, which included fire safety concerns.

Southern said the fire did not cause enough smoke or heat to trigger the alarm and said fire safety protocols were in line with the building’s ‘stay put’ policy.

However, shaken residents feared the fire could have been fatal if it had happened at night, and people had “stayed put” in their flats.

The fire was caused by an unattended barbecue, the fire brigade said. It took an hour and 60 firefighters to tackle the blaze.

Many terrified residents returned to their homes late last night, while others stayed with friends. Southern has moved six households to temporary accommodation.

Mariam Kouroma’s flat and all her possessions were destroyed in the fire. The 30-year-old fashion student claimed she complained to Southern last summer about a resident having a barbecue on their balcony, saying she was scared “something might happen”.

She was at work when the fire happened and received a call from Southern telling her there had been an “incident” and she should find somewhere else to stay for the night.

Mariam said: “My friend Googled it and that was when I knew there had been a fire.

“When I walked into my flat afterwards I had heart palpitations, I have lost everything. I am a fashion student and I’ve lost my machine and sewing projects.”

Chibuzor Martins was alerted to the fire when she heard people shouting from the street. She had to drag her 12-year-old son, who had appendix surgery a week before, out of the building – he now doesn’t want to return home after school, she said.

The 38-year-old said: “My son had just come back from school and was fixing himself something to eat when I heard some noises from outside. I looked and saw people on the other side of the road shouting at me to leave the building, then I could see the smoke.

“I had to grab my son and help him out. When we got out and I saw the fire I was screaming, I wasn’t thinking straight.”

A spokesman for Southern said a fire safety assessment has recently been carried out at Hallam Court.

They said: “Although it recommended works to the external wall system, an independent fire safety engineer confirmed the building is safe to occupy. The building also has an up-to-date Fire Risk Assessment.

“We’ve kept everybody at Hallam Court fully informed about the works required. The fire safety systems operated as intended for a building with a ‘stay put’ strategy.

“The fire didn’t cause enough heat or smoke to trigger the detectors in the communal areas as the fire was external to the building.

“Our team have continued to support all affected residents today, including being present at Hallam Court and door knocking to offer any assistance.”

Pictured top: Residents outside Hallam Court after the blaze (Picture: Tara O’Connor)