Occupants 'disgusted' by 'unacceptable' treatment following flat fire in James Watt Way, Erith

Residents escaped the inferno which ripped through the top floor of their apartment block in James Watt Way on Monday (August 8).

No one was hurt in the blaze but they claim to be without clothes, money or provisions after they were moved into the Bexleyheath Marriott hotel.

Fire crews started battling the flames at 1.35pm beating back the blaze that raged on into the evening (c.) Charlotte Jacobs

To make matters worse, the evacuees may have to continue their hotel residency until August 31, as there is no other accommodation available to them. 

Former resident Darren Braithwaith moved into James Watt Way on July 25

Speaking to News Shopper, Darren Braithwaith, 39, said: “No one even cares.

“There’s no food for us.

“Our building has burned down and they do not know what to do, why aren’t they showing some empathy?

“That is disgusting.

“We’re stuck in this hotel and it’s just not right.

“It’s not a place to live.

“We don’t have any clothes.

“We look like a bunch of homeless people stuck in a rich hotel.

“We’re none the wiser but they do not have any other temporary accommodation available.

“Once we’re split we’re on our own but we’re all standing together on this.”

Each resident has been granted a daily stipend to survive while the housing association in charge, Moat, decides its next move.

Initially the group was told that each resident was entitled to a £10 bursary until the housing association relented and increased this to £20.

The children’s bursary remains at the same level of £5 per day but only the cheapest main on the menu is salad charged at £10. 

Former resident Olare Waju moved into James Watt Way on June 15

Resident Olare Waju, 41, said: “I am not happy at all.

“£5 per day for a child is not acceptable, this situation is not acceptable.”

The Marriott hotel's menu in Bexleyheath

News Shopper has been informed that a James Watt Way resident, who is due to have a caesarean section on Thursday (August 18), was transferred from one hotel to another without any news on where she can go once she has had her operation. 

On the day of the fire 72 firefighters were on-hand to beat back the blaze which tore through the fifth floor and roof.

Olotayo Oyefeso, 39, from Chelmsford, was visiting her brother when the fire took hold.

Speaking to News Shopper she explained how she smashed glass-covered alarms, expecting to hear a siren sound to alert other residents, but heard nothing.

“And that is why I started panicking,” Ms Oyefeso said, “And I started shouting ‘there’s a fire’ and everyone came out at me and just looked at me in surprise.”

“They should have a crisis plan and it is so unfortunate the residents have to go through with this process.

“It’s an absolute disaster.”

It is believed the alarms Ms Oyefeso broke were for overriding the smoke vents on the outside of the building.

Residents of James Watt Way feel they have been stranded by their housing association Moat

A number of residents have spoken to the paper about the lack of fire alarms sounding in the hallways, but according to the London Fire Brigade, the alarms in such self-contained flats would not have sounded unless the fire or smoke was affecting that part of the building.

Pauline Jackson, 37, who lived in a flat on the fifth floor was asleep on her sette for about an hour as the huge fire took hold. 

Pauline Jackson, 37, lived in a flat on the fifth floor and slept for more than an hour while the fire raged on

She awoke to her mobile phone ringing and was escorted by firefighters out of the building. 

It has been reported that more than 25 people inside the building made their own way out of the flats before firefighters had arrived

A Moat spokesman said: “All residents are safe and have been resettled into hotels for the short term.

“We are extending hotel stays until August 31 to give certainty over the next few weeks and we are working closely with the local authority to make sure residents are provided with permanent accommodation as quickly as possible.

“Moat staff are in constant contact with affected residents, meeting face to face on a daily basis.

“We will continue to do so for the foreseeable future to make sure we are there to answer any queries and to resolve any issues that arise.

“This includes increasing the £10 dinner budget mentioned to £20.

“We are making sure that people have access to this immediately and are giving cash advances where we can.”

The cause of the fire has been confirmed by the fire brigade as an electrical fault on the roof, which was started accidentally.

The fire is believed to started after an electrical fault on top of the roof

Fire station manager Nick Harding, said: “Crews were faced with a developing fire when they arrived at the scene and worked really hard to stop it from spreading through the building.

“The roof of the building is covered in solar panels and a number of these have burnt, which is why there was a lot of smoke visible.”