Accessibility options


Investigators probing fatal blaze

Date: 4/7/2009 23:33:04

Search: Camberwell flats fire

Investigators are examining how a blaze which ripped through a tower block killing six people, including a three-week-old baby girl, was able to spread so quickly, officials said.

Doubts were raised over whether escape routes and fire prevention measures were adequate at the 12-storey 1960s building, which had a single central staircase.

Fire officials said a "unique situation" caused "one of the most significant fires in some time".

Helen Udoaka, 34, and her three-week old daughter Michelle, were among those killed in the fire at Lakanal House in Camberwell, south London, on Friday night.

Dayana Francisquini, 26, and Filipe Francisquini, three, also died, along with Catherine Hickman, 31.

The sixth victim, who has not yet been identified, is believed to be a four-year-old girl, police said.

Harriet Harman, the area's MP, said people were "asking questions" about fire escape routes in the tower block.

"There will have to be a thorough investigation in to what caused this fire and whether the prevention was adequate," she said.

Advertisement starts



Advertisement ends

Several residents described the complicated layout of the maisonettes as "a maze" and said it made the evacuation difficult while onlookers described seeing those trapped inside screaming for help.

The cause of the fire, which is believed to have started on the ninth floor, has not yet been established and officers are treating it as suspicious, police said.

2009 © Press Association

Advertisement starts



Advertisement ends


Advertisement starts



Advertisement ends

  • Tories unveil green plans
    Tories unveil green plans
    Families will accumulate points for the amount of household waste they recycle, which could then be used to claim up to £130 a year in vouchers from retailers such as Marks & Spencer and Tesco.
  • Search for killer ex-royal aide
    Search for killer ex-royal aide
    Police appeal for anyone with information on Jane Andrews to come forward.
  • Khan backs Pacquiao
    Khan backs Pacquiao
    WBA Light-welterweight champion Amir Khan says Manny Pacquiao could beat Floyd Mayweather if the two ever get together for a superfight.
  • Tartan Cumming gets gong
    Tartan Cumming gets gong
    The star, who was honoured for services to film, theatre and the arts and for his work as a gay rights campaigner, donned a kilt made of the Hunting Cumming pattern for the royal occasion, along with matching jacket and waistcoat.
arrow
Tories unveil green plans
Families will accumulate points for the amount of household waste they recycle, which could then be used to claim up to £130 a year in vouchers from retailers such as Marks & Spencer and Tesco.

5 day forecastMy Local Weather

Overcast
London
min: 12º
max:15º
 
 

Daily Pictures

Click here for a larger picture
Free daily picture newsletter
 
 
News

Advertisement starts



Advertisement ends

Skip to page content | Text onlyGraphical version of this page

Tiscali Quicklinks. Please visit our Accessibility Page for a list of the Access Keys you can use to find your way around the site, skip directly to the main navigation, to the page content, or to more links within news.

web |  shopping |  this site |  video |  local services

Page Footer


Access keys


You will need to use different key combinations in order to use access keys depending on your internet browser, find out which on our accessibility page.
  • (0) Navigate to Accessibility page.
  • (1) Navigate to Home page.
  • (2) Navigate to My email.
  • (3) Navigate to My Account.
  • (4) Navigate to Site Map page.
  • (5) Navigate to Contact us page.
  • (6) Navigate to Members channel.
  • (7) Navigate to Services channel.
  • (8) Navigate to News & Info channel.
  • (9) Navigate to Entertainment channel.
  • ([) Skip down to the Primary navigation block.
  • (]) Skip down to the more links within this section block.
  • (=) Bypass all navigation and jump to the content.
  • (x) Text only version of this page.
Background images used:
furniture images used in the site icons used in the site images used in the header