UPDATE 01/04/2015, 14:00: There is speculation that the fire at student accommodation in Radford could have been started by a single cigarette.
The fire is continuing to burn, with still more than 65 firefighters present on the scene tackling the blaze. The high winds are hindering the efforts of the fire service.
Building manager Rebecca Snow told The Nottingham Post that there was speculation the blaze could have been started by a cigarette in one of the bedrooms.
She added: “It’s just an assumption – I think there will be an investigation where we will find out what happened.”
Structural engineers are on standby as there are fears the building could collapse.
More than 60 fire-fighters are still tackling a fire that broke out at The Student Lodge accommodation in Radford at 2pm on Monday. There were no injuries.
Around 24 students had to be evacuated and re-homed for the night by the accommodation owners.
The source of the fire is believed to be at a void in between the third and fourth floors of the building, but fire-fighters are struggling to reach it.
Scott Jennings, who lives in one of the blocks opposite the affected building said, “The wind has hampered the efforts of the fire crew. I thought the fire would be extinguished by this morning but unfortunately it had spread to the roof overnight. Everyone has a lot of respect for the Fire Service who have been there through the night and prevented the fire from spreading to other buildings.”
Maboob Ahmad, building manager for the site told The Nottingham Post, “There are 40 rooms in total that have been affected, but with it being the Easter holidays a lot of the students are away.
Incident commander David Stevenson, from Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service, said, “At the moment we have a significant fire in the roof space. The building conditions are too hazardous to commit firefighters into that part of the building.”
“We are having to tackle the fire using an aerial ladder platform, at the same time we have got firefighters on the other side of the building where construction is taking place and they are actively fire fighting to prevent the fire spreading.”
In total 15 fire engines, five vehicles from East Midlands Ambulance Service and two police cars are in attendance.
There are also structural engineers on standby in case the condition of the building gets worse. Parts of Gregory Boulevard have been closed off causing significant traffic.
An investigation into the cause of the fire will be launched once the fire has been successfully put out.
Caroline Chan
Image: Scott Jennings
