A Bromley woman was left feeling "fear and disappointment" after her building's alarm system did not alert residents to a spreading fire.

An unsafely disposed cigarette sparked flames outside a bicycle store room, which spread to the walls of the flat-block on Bell Green, Sydenham, last Saturday evening. 

Despite smoke moving throug Orchard Court's vents, the alarm system didn't sound, meaning Marie only became aware of the danger when a neighbour knocked to warn her.

Marie said: "I panicked as someone who is currently shielding.

"I didn’t want to leave the safety of my flat into a herd of other people going down the fire exit with two children, but at the same time with no alarms working I was unaware how long the fire had been ongoing.

"I’m not necessarily angry anymore, at first instance I was furious and wanted someone to blame, however at this point it’s more fear and disappointment.

"I haven’t been able to sleep and my daughter had nightmares last night about not being able to get out of the building.

"I feel very uncomfortable staying in a block of flats with no alarm system that works, and I’ve also been put back on steroids and antibiotics because of the smoke effecting my lungs.".

Emergency services were alerted to the incident at around 6.30pm by a resident who saw smoke outside of their kitchen window.

Four fire engines and around 25 firefighters from Beckenham, Lewisham, Bromley and West Norwood fire stations attended the scene, bringing the incident under control by 9.30pm.

Around 80 people were evacuated from the building as a precaution.

Two women were treated on scene by London Ambulance Service Crews after suffering from smoke inhalation.

Clarion Housing Group, the association responsible for keeping the building safe, says the fire alarm system is fully operational, but the amount of smoke that entered the building was not sufficient to trigger it.

A Clarion Housing Group spokesperson said:"

“The building complies with building regulations and has the appropriate fire detection system in place, which is regularly tested and fully operational.

"At Orchard Court, the fire started outside the building. As the building operates a ‘stay put’ policy in the event of a fire, the communal areas are not alarmed and instead have a smoke management system.

"In addition, each individual flat is equipped with smoke and heat detectors.

"As this fire started outside the building, some smoke made its way through vents into a few flats, however this was not at a level for the alarms in the flats to trigger.”