RESIDENTS living in Oakridge are demanding answers from the fire service as to how a major fire started and spread so quickly.

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service announced on Tuesday, June 6, that it had concluded its investigation and identified the cause of the fire at an apartment block in Oakridge Road on May 27 was an electrical fault.

However, those affected by the fire have been left with more questions than answers and are calling on the fire service to provide further details.

READ MORE: Fire service identifies cause of major fire in Oakridge block after investigation

More than 80 firefighters tackled the blaze at the block, which has left 24 families displaced.

Those living nearby who were evacuated during the incident told how the fire “spread within seconds” as families fled their homes to safety.

Now, they want answers as to exactly how the fire started and spread.

SEE ALSO: Families fled burning building as fire 'spread within seconds'

April Nethercliffe, 63, was looking after her 14-year-old granddaughter at the time the fire broke out and was forced to evacuate her home until 1am the next day. 

Her apartment miraculously avoided any fire damage but is joined to those that are cordoned off. 

She is now hoping for answers and said: “I am very worried. I would like to know why it spread so quickly when there are meant to be fire barriers in between."

Alison Ramsay also fled her home with a bag of belongings when she saw the smoke. 

The 56-year-old, whose house backs onto the apartment block, was at home with her son at the time and said: “It spread literally within seconds. It went from the guttering and then up. We could see the flames in the next building and then we knew it was going up.

"It’s so scary how quickly it spread. It was like something out of a film, it was so surreal.”

Another resident who lives nearby in a similar style of building said: “I’d like to know what kind of electrical fault? Was it from within the hard-wired electrical? Was it tampered or was it an external electrical issue? This doesn’t put me at ease knowing other blocks around including mine could be at risk of this.”

The Gazette asked the fire service for further information, including why the fire spread so quickly and whether there are any lessons to be learned. 

A spokesperson responded to say: “Fire investigators have been able to determine the cause of the fire was accidental, likely an overheated cable from an electrical extension drum.”

They added that the team had “ruled out arson” and are no longer investigating, handing the incident over to the building owners. 

Jonathan Cowie, chief operating officer at Vivid said: “The fire was caused by an accidental incident probably related to issues with an extension cable and associated electrical appliance. The building has been fully assessed and undergone all compliance and safety checks which have been confirmed and certified. Ten households are able to move back into their homes and we continue to be in daily contact with all our customers impacted by the fire to support them, especially those who can’t re-occupy their homes until extensive work has been done to repair the damage.”