Households still displaced six months after fire

Six households are still in temporary accommodation half a year after a fire destroyed their homes.

More than 80 firefighters tackled the accidental blaze in Oakridge Road, Basingstoke, on 27 May.

No one was injured but several blocks of flats were damaged and 24 families were displaced.

Housing provider Vivid said 10 households had moved back and eight were "settled in alternative homes", but the remaining six are still in temporary accommodation.

Alex Nagle, customer service director at Vivid, said the company was "in regular contact" with displaced people "to make sure they’re as settled as can be and to keep them updated".

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire & Rescue Service (HIWFRS) has issued an enforcement notice to the housing company to carry out safety works on other blocks in the estate.

The enforcement action affects 85 homes in Oakridge in Aspen Way, Pear Tree Way, Oakridge Road, and Forsythia Walk.

The company said it was acting "swiftly on all recommendations" from the fire service.

The incident - which firefighters say was caused by an electrical fault on an balcony - had left the entire community "in shock", according to Councillor Paul Harvey, leader of Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council.

"Everyone has had the opportunity to be rehoused," he said.

"We are making sure that everyone has the opportunity to be supported."

He said there was "a huge response as the community rallied around" in the aftermath of the fire, and more than £10,000 was raised to support residents.

"We at the council - also Vivid - and a number of authorities came together to support residents, and that was essential," he said.

Now residents want reassurance that Vivid Housing is addressing the enforcement notice, according to Mr Harvey.

Vivid said it was "working proactively and in partnership with the fire service on safety works".

HIWFRS is providing support to Vivid to make assessments and improvements "in a reasonable time frame", according to its assistant director for community safety, Jason Avery.

"We have shared the findings of the commissioned independent fire engineer’s report with Vivid and Basingstoke and Deane Council who are currently giving their feedback on the report," he said.

He added that "a number of fire safety" measures were in place should there be another fire.

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