Firefighters vs the residents/victims
London: Survivors of the Camberwell tower block inferno have accused firefighters of failing to help those who lost their lives in the blaze.
During a highly charged public meeting, residents who escaped the blaze claimed they were ordered back from the block’s only stairwell by firefighters.
Many said they only managed to get out by ignoring the firefighters’ instructions to stay inside their maisonette homes in the 12-storey Lakanal House at the Sceaux Gardens Estate.
Members of the Fire Brigade said it was vital firefighters had access to the stairwell to fight the fire.
Residents demanded answers from officers at a residents association meeting held in an identical neighbouring tower block on Monday night.
Yolimar Caboz, 33, whose friend Dayana Francisquini, 26, her three-year-old son Felipe, and six-year-old daughter Thais perished while cowering from the flames in their flat, fought back tears as she repeatedly asked why her friend had been told to abandon an attempt to descend the stairwell to safety.
They died in Francisquini’s bathroom along with Helen Udoaka and her three-week-old baby Michelle.
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http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=301691...
