Published on November 28, 2009, 6:45 am
Opinion
The lives of over 300 people in the small community of Southampton Way, Peckham, south London, were saved by the love of their neighbours.

I listened to Harriett Harman's praise of the fire service as the drama of November 26 unfolded and learnt firsthand that the true heroes of the raging inferno that devastated the community are the residents.

Carole, who lives on Carisbroke Road, said she was woken up by knocks on her door and the sound of people "screaming and shouting fire! fire!"

Janet, who lives some distance from the affected area, said:

"I was woken up by screams and knocking at my door. When I...looked out the window it was like a bright summer's morning. There were people screaming and running from house to house waking up neighbours."

Carole described the scene she woke up to as "like something from a movie".

"The fire behaved as if it was an agent going from building to building then darting back and forth in a circle, almost as if it was selecting it's target. The wind helped in spreading the fire," she explained.

They both described the state people where in. According to Janet, "One man only had on skimpy underpants and a woman gave him her tights to help keep him warm. Some people were barefoot and [there were] children in their nightclothes without coats."

As regards the structure of the flats, both said there are no fire escapes and that they feel the buildings should be knocked down.

I arrived at the Damilola Taylor Centre in Peckham at 6 pm, by which time most of the residents whose homes were devastated by the fire had been rehoused in temporary accommodation.

Those living in the remaining homes that were saved were waiting for the all clear to return. According to Carole, "doors were kicked down and were being replaced". It was evident that people were still in shock and in fear of what they will be going back to.

Some of the residents were able to grab essentials. Interestingly, it was the elderly who were most prepared.

Some had trolleys with bit and bobs to see them through the night. Others like Carole and Janet had important documents packed and placed strategically for such an emergency - a lesson for us all.

As J A Rogers said: "Nature knows no colour line" neither does fire nor love.