'Frightening' bin fire prompts calls for adequate safety measures at Sudbury homes

A Sudbury woman has called for adequate safety measures to be put in place at a block of flats, after she was left trapped following a fire.

Jean Thomas was awoken in the early hours, when a fire in two dustbins at the Borehamgate precinct spread and blocked a staircase.

With no other escape route, Ms Thomas said she and several other tenants were marooned while they waited for fire crews to arrive.

“Neighbours were outside with babies in their arms,” said the 61-year-old. “We couldn’t go down the staircase. It was very frightening, especially for the babies who had been dragged out of their cots.”

While waiting for the emergency services, Ms Thomas witnessed the extent of the blaze.

“When we were standing outside, the bins just burnt to a crisp,” she said. “There seemed to be aerosol cans in the bins, as they were exploding.”

Ms Thomas, who has lived in a flat above the shopping precinct for eight years, has called on Babergh District Council to install a separate fire escape.

She has also raised safety concerns over the condition of the staircase and the bins, which are constantly overflowing.

“The smell is awful, especially in the summer, when there are flies – it’s disgusting,” she said.

A spokesman for Babergh District Council gave assurances this week that the matter is being addressed.

“The welfare of our tenants is, of course, our main priority,” he said.

“We understand their concerns and have already taken steps to ensure their safety.

“Our managing agents have visited the site following the fire to assess the situation and will identify, as a matter of urgency, an alternative position for the bins and an alternative escape route at the precinct in the event of an emergency. We will work with our agents to assess the options.

“The staircase has been checked and is secure and structurally safe. We are also working with our managing agents to carry out any remedial work to make good the area affected by the fire, reviewing the replacement of the handrails and steps to the first floor.”