Hours out in cold for evacuated blaze block residents
3.30AM ALERT FOR CAR PARK FIRE
RESIDENTS feared a fire would “take hold” when they were evacuated from a block of flats in Nottingham.
Two vehicles caught fire on the second level of the car park under the Litmus Building in Huntingdon Street, in the early hours of yesterday.
Around eight fire engines and police rushed to the blaze at around 3.25am.
Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service said an investigation would take place into the cause. No injuries were reported.
Hundreds of residents, including families, live in the block. Many took refuge in nearby Salvation Army premises and Nottingham Trent University’s Boots Library before being allowed to return at around 7.30am.
James Mills, who has lived there for four years, said: “Something woke me up at about 3.15am, then at twenty past the alarm went off,” he recalled.
“At first I was slow to react but I heard the sirens and thought that was a quick response.”
The 33-year-old truck driver said he saw around eight fire engines when he left the building.
“I noticed smoke billowing out and thought ‘it’s actually a fire.’”
He said residents stood on the road for a few hours before being taken in by the Salvation Army.
“There are a lot of families living there.
“Some residents were just in their pyjamas or boxers.
“I did think ‘is this going to take hold?’ But they told us it was only in the car park.”
Michelle Sullivan, a student who has lived in the building for a year, said: “I looked down and saw everyone outside, I quickly put on some jeans and came down, there were a lot of people.
“We waited on the side for a while. There was smoke coming from the car area.
“I was a little bit worried; you always think it’s not serious but when we saw the smoke you always think it’s more serious.”
Ms Sullivan said she waited at Mcdonalds until she was allowed to re-enter at around 7.30am. Prajar Raote, who’s lived in the block for three years, said she saw “a lot of smoke” coming from the basement car park when she was evacuated at around 3.30am. “I just saw smoke. We went to a friend’s place but they set up a refuge at the university library,” she said.
“We were just hoping everything would be OK.” Another resident, who did not wish to be named, recalled seeing smoke coming from the vents outside the building. “There were lots of fire engines going in the car park,” he said.
“I was thinking I’m lucky I don’t have any pets.
“I hope everyone’s OK. My mate owns a bar so I was able to go there and try to sleep.”
A spokesperson for NFRS said it would remain at the scene throughout the day while an investigation took place.
I noticed smoke billowing out and thought ‘it’s actually a fire’
James Mills, resident