CAMPAIGNERS whose homes were destroyed in a fire are calling for action over a major fire in an apartment block in Basingstoke, as questions over how it spread so easily remain unanswered. 

More than 80 firefighters tackled the blaze in Oakridge Road on May 27 which destroyed or damaged the homes of 24 families.

The campaign group End Our Cladding Scandal has written to Basingstoke MP Maria Miller regarding the Oakridge Road fire with concerns about how it spread so quickly and is calling on the government to take action over low-rise apartment block fires.

READ MORE: Oakridge fire victims demand answers over major fire in apartment block

Jennifer Frame, a spokesperson for the group, whose flat in a four storey-block was destroyed by a fire in Worcester Park, London, in 2019, said: “If a building is constructed properly then a fire should be contained within one property, giving the fire service time to bring it under control before it spreads further. However, multiple apartments were damaged or destroyed at Oakridge Road.”

Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service said its investigation into the cause of the fire had concluded, revealing that it was started by an electrical fault, likely to have been an overheated cable from an electrical extension drum.

However, victims of the fire have been calling for answers as to how it spread so quickly. 

Dame Maria said she is taking the "very serious allegations" regarding the Oakridge fire to the fire authorities and housing association "to ensure that residents have the reassurance that a full investigation has taken place". 

Jennifer, who has been unable to return to her home since the fire, said: “It is glaringly obvious from the images taken after the fire [in Oakridge Road] that the roofline was entirely destroyed, and that there was a failure of compartmentation at the roof level. It appears that defects in the roof allowed unhindered and rapid fire spread between multiple apartments.”

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

The Gazette has asked Vivid and Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service why the fire was able to spread so quickly and what lessons can be learned from the incident, but so far, neither has responded.

Residents told how the fire “spread within seconds”, and those who are still living in the block are now worried about their safety.

Jennifer, 44, pointed out government building regulations which state that compartment walls must be continued through roof space to the underside of the roof.

She said to Dame Maria: “The building owner and developer must be held to account if their failure to meet building regulations has damaged or destroyed your constituents’ homes.

READ ALSO:MA Photos show extent of damage caused by major fire in Oakridge Road

“We would encourage you to please ask questions of both the building owner, Vivid and the original developer of this block about safety defects (such as lack of compartmentation at roof level) that allowed rapid fire spread which damaged or destroyed multiple homes at Oakridge Road.

"The building owner should be asked whether they previously knew of defects through fire risk assessments.”

She added: “We are concerned about a high prevalence of fires that rip unhindered through the roofs of flats, putting the whole building and all the occupants at risk; we do not think this instance in your constituency is a one-off.

“There have been a large number of recent examples since Grenfell - such as in Romford, Arborfield, Deptford and Walthamstow. We are concerned that the Department for Levelling Up and Housing (DLUHC, formerly MHCLG) has known for a long time about the issue of fires in roof spaces yet nothing appears to have improved.”

A report commissioned by the department and published in 2015 highlighted the high number of serious fires in roof voids, with the main issue put down to poor construction quality.

The research said that as well as causing widespread damage, it also posed a life risk to occupants and firefighters.

“This is not a minor issue, but it seems to have not led to sufficient action to address the risk – leading to outcomes like the one we have seen in Oakridge Road,” said Jennifer, adding: “We are particularly concerned that the failure of roofs to contain fire (for the duration required by the building regulations) tends to happen disproportionately in low-rise blocks, under 11 metres in height.”

The campaign group is calling for Dame Maria to support victims of the Oakridge Road fire by raising concerns in Parliament.

Jennifer said the fire in her home has had a lasting impact, explaining: “There’s the constant worry and fear of something happening. The fear that everything could go away in a moment. What’s the point of having things if they can just be ripped away in a moment without having any ability to control that?

“But from a positive perspective, it’s led me to use that experience to try to make sure it doesn’t happen to anyone else.”

She added: “The government’s approach has been very dismissive, but people’s homes and lives matter.”

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities has been asked for a comment.

A spokesperson for Vivid declined to comment on the concerns raised by End Our Cladding Scandal and said it will “focus on keeping our key stakeholders up to date directly”.

Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service has not responded to a request for a comment.