Six houses destroyed in Northfleet fire leaving community homeless
No one was injured, but questions are now being asked about how the fire started.
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00:00 Five o'clock I noticed a load of smoke go past the window.
00:03 I shouted up to my son, because he lives there as well,
00:07 and he looked out of his window and said,
00:09 just shouted, come downstairs, get out the house,
00:12 because there's a house on fire.
00:13 We came out and the street was thick with smoke.
00:16 We could just about see to get across the road.
00:18 Belongings burnt, waterlogged, and destroyed.
00:22 Memories up in smoke and homes lost.
00:27 The aftermath of a fire destroying six homes
00:30 in Norfleet.
00:31 Taking eight hours to put out, the fire service
00:35 has today taken some residents back into their homes
00:38 to retrieve any salvageable belongings or documents.
00:43 And for Rosemary, this might be the last time
00:45 she sees her home of 45 years.
00:48 A tough goodbye.
00:50 And everything we had are all gone.
00:53 We've lived here all our lives, near enough.
00:56 And everything we own are in these properties.
00:59 And it is such bad dirt.
01:01 It's really, really horrifying to think that you--
01:05 it's the silly things you think of, but then photos and stuff
01:08 like that.
01:09 We can't replace them.
01:10 My children, when they were younger, and all my grandchildren,
01:13 I can't replace all that.
01:15 It's just-- we've got nothing.
01:18 But the fire could have been worse.
01:21 Now, there was the threat that the fire could spread
01:23 from that set of terraces into the adjacent set.
01:26 So to stop that, the fire service
01:28 put foam along here and up the walls
01:31 to try and stop the fire spreading.
01:33 Thankfully, it worked.
01:35 Questions remain on how it started.
01:37 And investigations have begun.
01:40 There's significant damage.
01:41 The fire has torn through the properties.
01:44 We have also had to gain access to the roof space
01:47 to extinguish it.
01:48 So this morning, obviously, we're
01:49 really mindful of the impact on those directly affected
01:52 in the wider community.
01:53 So we're working closely to support
01:55 those directly affected.
01:56 Thankfully, no one was injured.
01:58 But it could have been different.
02:00 The elderly lady at number eight,
02:02 she was still in her house with her daughter.
02:04 I went in there, told them to get out,
02:06 because the roof was on fire.
02:08 Grabbed the family cat.
02:10 I don't know what's going to happen with their homes.
02:12 I don't know if they're going to take the houses down or try
02:15 and redo them up again.
02:16 I don't know.
02:17 But all I know is people have lost a lot of stuff.
02:19 And they're going to need a lot of help.
02:21 There is a GoFundMe page.
02:23 Help as much as you can.
02:25 And donations are already coming in.
02:27 But they're still without a home.
02:30 Gravesham Council says they'll provide temporary shelter.
02:34 Of course, our temporary accommodation is so stretched.
02:37 But these people are going to have to be given priority
02:40 because of the trauma they've been through.
02:41 And we will stay in contact with them
02:43 because we do care about our residents and our tenants.
02:46 How quickly are they going to get into these houses?
02:49 Well, at the moment, they're being
02:52 put in overnight accommodation, which is hotel accommodation,
02:56 nice hotels.
02:58 And we will then take it from there,
02:59 from the point of view of how quickly we can move them in,
03:02 what's empty, where it is, where it's available,
03:04 and what their needs are.
03:06 Whether these houses are pulled down or can be saved,
03:09 the homeowners are left in shock,
03:12 homeless and awaiting answers.
03:14 Gabriel Morris for Caine TV in North Leet.