A young mother has recounted her harrowing experience attempting to escape a fire in her block of flats in Dagenham, east London. Cydney Parker, 26, reported that fire alarms failed to sound, and an escape route gate was padlocked when the fire erupted at the Spectrum building early on Monday morning.
Parker described the scene as she fled in her pyjamas. “I saw numerous fire engines outside… I looked through the front door, and the corridor was filled with thick black smoke. We had to run, but the exterior fire gate was padlocked shut, preventing our exit.” She continued, “I felt like I was going to die right there.” To escape, she and others had to find a way to jump over a fence. Once atop the fence, they screamed for police assistance to get down. “How can they block a fire escape?” she asked emotionally.
The mother of two feared losing all her belongings. Multiple residents also complained that no fire alarms had sounded during the emergency. “No alarms went off,” Parker confirmed. “They’ve gone off for no reason so many times, but when we needed them, they didn’t work.” She demanded the building be shut down and residents rehoused, expressing her anger over the situation.
More than 200 firefighters took part in a “significant search and rescue operation” which involved more than 80 people at the east London tower block.
Cydney Parker describes how she fled the blaze, only to find a fire gate padlocked shut.
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Remarkably, all residents escaped the blaze, with only a few requiring hospital treatment. The London Fire Brigade acknowledged prior awareness of several fire safety issues at the building. Work was ongoing to remove non-compliant cladding, and scaffolding surrounded the structure. Investigators will now examine the fire’s cause and whether more could have been done to protect residents.
Efforts to contact the building’s management company for comment were unsuccessful.
As the fire subsided, many residents fled with just the clothes they wore. Those without alternative accommodation have been relocated to a nearby leisure centre, where families huddled together, facing an uncertain future. Drilon Nezaj, holding his 17-month-old daughter, recounted how staying at a friend’s house that night saved their lives.
Another resident, Kasia, woke to flames reaching her balcony. She and her partner escaped with their dog, but their flat was destroyed. Fighting back tears, she expressed relief that they were safe, saying, “The rest can be replaced. We got out, luckily.”
The building’s fire safety issues were well-documented, and dangerous cladding was being removed when the fire broke out. While there may be time for blame later, the immediate concern remains the welfare of the residents, especially those with young children, who urgently need help and shelter.
What Other Media Are Saying
- Yahoo News reports on a young mother who fled a Dagenham tower block fire, stating that fire alarms failed to activate and an escape gate was locked, causing panic and distress.(read more)
- The Standard reports on a massive fire in Dagenham, with over 200 firefighters tackling the blaze, evacuating over 100 people, and injuring two.(read more)
- BBC News reports on a fire in a London high-rise building, with residents fearing loss of possessions and firefighters tackling the blaze, which highlighted safety concerns and cladding issues.(read more)
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions asked about this news
What happened at the Spectrum building in Dagenham?
A fire broke out, forcing residents to flee. Fire alarms didn’t sound, and an escape gate was padlocked and a mother survived.
Did any fire alarms go off during the fire?
No, multiple residents, including Cydney Parker, reported that no fire alarms went off during the emergency.
Were there any fire safety issues at the Spectrum building before the fire?
Yes, the London Fire Brigade was aware of several fire safety issues at the building before the fire.
What are the residents’ current living arrangements?
Residents with nowhere else to go have been moved to a nearby leisure center.
What will investigators look into regarding the fire?
Investigators will examine the cause of the fire and whether more could have been done to protect residents.