Radio stations help Peckham fire victims

Thursday, 03 December 2009

By Sam Masters

PIRATE radio stations have given hundreds of homeless residents food and clothes in the wake of the devastating Peckham fire.

The Peckham stations, including Lightning FM, called on local people to dig deep and donate household items to victims of the massive blaze.

More than 300 people fled their homes after the fire spread from a building site in Sumner Street last Thursday.

Some, like 69-year-old Sonia Reeves, lost everything they owned.

. Mrs Reeves, who had lived in Carisbrooke House on the Willowbrook Estate for 45 years before the blaze destroyed her home, said treasured heirlooms had been lost.

She said: “We didn’t want the building there.

"It was too close and it was all made of timber. We objected, but the next thing we knew it was being built.

“I have lost everything. All the memorabilia, the things you’re not going to get back like pictures of my mum and dad. They are all gone.”

More than 300 sacks of goods were donated to the fire victims on Sunday.

They included televisions, toothbrushes, and clothes.

Event organiser and radio producer Danny Tammuz said: “You name it, we got it.

“I think the people gave so much because they could identify with the people who were affected.

“We needed to get a van to carry it all. The man from the council was chuffed when we delivered it.”

Thursday’s blaze began on a building site run by Greenacre Homes between the North Peckham and Willowbrook Estates.

Camberwell and Peckham Labour MP Harriet Harman has called for an inquiry into how the fire started and spread, describing it as a “miracle” that no one died.

Only 10 people required hospital treatment for the effects of smoke inhalation.

The fire started on a building site for 39 homes being built by Croydon company Greenacre Homes on behalf of South London housing association, London and Quadrant.

A South London Press investigation has revealed that Greenacre Homes Ltd was served with enforcement notices by the Health and Safety Executive in June.

It followed an inspection that found “there are no fire extinguishers and only alarm is in site cabin”.

It ordered that all work at the site in Selhurst Road, Crystal Palace, be stopped immediately.

It is understood that the concerns were rectified before the site was reopened.

The cause of Thursday’s fire is still under investigation by the London Fire Brigade.

The HSE said it was liaising with police before deciding whether it would take over the probe.

London and Quadrant chief executive David Montague said Greenacre was co-operating with the investigation.

He said: “The developers of the site, Greenacre Homes, have been co-operating fully with the HSE who are now investigating the cause of the fire.

“The site has had regular health and safety checks carried out by the contractor in compliance with the legislation.”

He said the last check on the site was carried out on November 18.

The first “improvement” notice served on Greenacre was in March, 2007, for three breaches of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Management of Health and Safety and Work Regulations 1999 at a site in South Norwood.

The sections protect the health of employees and the public.

If companies fail act on their recommendations, a prison term can result.

Despite repeated attempts, no one from Greenacre was available for comment.

Email: sam.masters@slp.co.uk

For the full story, you can get a full online edition at www.slp-e-edition.co.uk

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