A fire that broke out in a Dagenham tower block early Monday morning forced the evacuation of over 80 residents, with two individuals being hospitalized.
A mother-of-two described to Sky News how the escape route was locked during the emergency. Inside the building, footage captured a blaze raging as someone desperately shouted, “open the gate.”
A representative for the residents criticized the failure of the building’s fire alarm system, which did not activate and left them without essential warnings.
The spokesperson condemned the locked fire escape route, which was intended to be a crucial safety measure.
“The various levels of management from landlords to agencies failed to ensure our safety,” they said.
Residents had previously voiced concerns about fire safety, particularly regarding delays in removing hazardous cladding from the building.
Matt Wrack, General Secretary of the Fire Brigades Union, reported that firefighters observed “burning cladding falling from the building” as they worked to control the fire.
The London Fire Brigade has acknowledged widespread fire safety issues across the city, noting that over 1,000 buildings require urgent repairs.
Some residents feel fortunate to have survived the ordeal. Jlek, one of the evacuees, told Sky News that their dog played a crucial role in saving their life.
“The dog started barking because there was no alarm in the building. If it hadn’t barked, I’d be dead,” Jlek said.
Dagenham Council has promised ongoing support to those affected, including providing emergency housing.
They also pledged to hold Block Management UK Ltd accountable for their responsibilities and to seek reimbursement from those at fault.
Block Management, the company responsible for the building’s management, has yet to respond to requests for comment.
