Hard Times
8 February 2005
Fire in the night
In the early hours of last Wednesday morning a fire ripped through the upper floors of a block of flats in Stevenage. It cost one resident of Harrow Court and two young fire fighters, Michael Millar and Jeff Wornham, their lives. It wounded seven others and made eighty people temporarily homeless.
Behind this stark description lies a bottomless well of grief and misery. An event like this shakes us all. Its ripples reach out across the community. That is why there are so many flowers outside Stevenage Fire Station and Harrow Court. It is also why books of condolence are being signed and funds are being set up.
What else can we do to show our gratitude and appreciation? Or our grief and sympathy? Not much. But every thing we do manage to do helps those left behind to deal with their loss. So, please, let the families know how you feel. Then they will not be so alone.
Blue Watch’s bravery
That is why my husband and I went down to the Fire Station on Monday afternoon. We took a bunch of roses and signed the three books of condolences placed on a small table in the lobby. One for each of the fire fighters who died and one for their watch – Blue.
The men and women of Blue Watch were back at work on Monday. Their faces were sad and strained. They wore thin black ribbons pinned to their shirts and, when they spoke, their voices were low. That was the main difference. Normally, the atmosphere in the Fire Station borders on boisterous. On Monday it was subdued and sad.
The pain caused by Michael and Jeff’s death was so strong you could almost feel it. Fire fighters spend far more time together than most other workers. The constant experience of shared danger makes them even closer. They could not do the kind of work they have to do if they were not. But is also makes the loss of a colleague that much harder to bear.
Blue Watch will cope. In fact, they are coping. I saw it myself. As I put the flowers onto the pavement outside the Fire Station the alarm went off. Alertness replaced grief; action replaced sadness as Blue Watch jumped into their suits and onto their appliances. Life, with all its sorrow, goes on.
Inspecting the damage
Immediately before going to the Fire Station I had been to look at the damage at Harrow Court. Wearing a hardhat and heavy boots I climbed up to the thirteenth floor. Slowly. Both lifts were out of action. One is quite badly damaged but the other, the foreman said, should be back in action soon.
Each floor had been affected differently. Some looked almost untouched. Others had shattered front doors and sodden carpets. All were smelly. But some were far worse than others. The odour was very strong. Almost overwhelming. One resident later described it to me as like putting your head inside a fireplace. Very accurate.
At the thirteenth floor we had to stop. Above us forensic experts were still trying to establish the cause of the fire. Below us Council workers were doing their best to make the rest of the building habitable. I paused and looked out of the window. It was a beautiful, clear, winter’s day. The sun was shining and the view was stunning. Such a contrast to the chaos within.
Temporary shelter
Until the cause of the fire is established the forensic experts will not release the building to the Council. Until the building is released the Council cannot get on the roof to find out whether it is safe. Until the Council know whether the building is safe they cannot start the repair work. Until the repair work is done the eighty or so residents cannot return to their homes.
So, what do they do in the meantime? Most of them are staying in hotels in Stevenage. Many of them are extremely shaken. Some cannot wait to get home. Some never want to go back.
It is a very difficult time for them and for the Council. But both groups have risen to the challenge and are doing their best to adjust. However, it is very hard to be separated from all your belongings, including your car keys and insurance policies, indefinitely. It is even harder to have to leave pets and cherished belongings behind.
Fortunately, the former are now being looked after by the RSPCA and the Council have secured all the front doors at Harrow Court. But that is not much comfort to people who do not know when they will be able to go home. Or, worst of all, who do not know if they can ever call it home again.
Barbara Follett MP
