DOZENS of residents were evacuated from their homes on the Limes Farm Estate, Hainault, after fire ripped through the roof of a block of flats and maisonettes on Sunday evening.

At the height of the fire more than 40 firefighters, some using two aerial platforms, tackled the blaze which started in a top floor maisonette at Copperfield at about 5pm and spread to the pitched roof which tops the 100m by 50m block.

Waltham Abbey and Loughton crews were joined by London firefighters as they countered difficult conditions to bring the fire under control.

Leading firefighter Jimmy Jewell said: "The fire started in an upstairs room of a maisonette on the top floor. It broke through the window and the flames went into the soffit of a small pitched roof on top of the block.

"We evacuated residents purely as a safety precaution. It's standard procedure to get everyone out with a serious fire like this."

The 90 evacuees were taken to a temporary rest centre set up by Epping Forest Council's emergency planning team at nearby Limes Farm Hall. Most spent Sunday and Monday night with friends or family but 11 residents were placed in bed and breakfast accommodation before returning home on Tuesday.

Because of a lack of space, initial attempts to place firefighters in the roof space failed.

Mr Jewell said: "The main problem was that the actual space between the two roofs was only about 1.5ft so to get in there was nigh on impossible. We did try to get guys in there but in the end it was too dangerous and unworkable so we withdrew and put two hydraulic platforms up onto the roof."

He added: "It was a serious fire and at one point the whole roof was going up in various different places. We had between 40 and 50 firefighters there on six machines."

The concrete frame of the building protected the properties below from the effects of the fire.

Although the pitched roof was destroyed, as was the maisonette where the fire started, many neighbouring properties escaped serious damage.

The block is owned by Epping Forest Council which leases seven of its 37 properties to London and Quadrant Housing Trust. Despite the widespread damage to the top floor the council has already set about the task of repairing the roof.

Council chief executive John Burgess, who was on the scene during the blaze, said: "I would like to extend my thanks to the firefighters and police for their efforts as well as my own staff, some of whom worked through the night.

"I would also like to say a special word of thanks to Limes Farm Community Association, Vineyard Church and the many individual neighbours who rallied round to support people evacuated from their homes.

"The community spirit was terrific as people opened their homes to those in need."

April 30, 2003 10:00