Families left shocked by fire

Four families left homeless after the fire at Southview, Bamford

The families who have been left homeless after a fire tore through their properties on South View, Bamford, yesterday evening (Wednesday 1 July) have been left “shocked” and “delirious”.

http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/96740/four-families-left-homeless-after-fire-tears-through-bamford-terrace

Farzana Akhtar, whose property the fire started in, described feeling shocked after seeing the devastation the fire had caused.

She said: “I was just shocked when I saw what had happened. My husband had been sleeping in the room where it started beforehand and I woke him up at 2.45pm so it could have been a lot worse.”

The fire started in the back room of the property.

Farzana added: “I was out with the children visiting my parents and my husband was downstairs and didn’t know what was happening. My neighbour told him after banging on the window. Because of the heat, we had all of the windows open, so the smoke was going out and not down. She saw it from the back garden and then told my husband. He tried to go upstairs but it was too dangerous so he just got out and then phoned me.”

It is currently unclear how the fire started and fire investigators have been on the scene to try and establish the cause.

“Luckily no one was hurt and that is the main thing,” added Farzana.

Simon Green, who lives next door to the Akhtar family, found out about the fire after heading home from the golf course.

He said: “I came down War Office Road and saw the smoke and then as I got closer I just knew it was my house. As I got even closer, I could see the flames and I could see that the roof was gone.”

Firefighters were on the scene for most of the night and this morning (Thursday 2 July) ensuring the properties had been made safe.

Simon added: “I have been able to go upstairs and have a look around and get the sentimental things that I had, but there is nothing left. Everything is gone. All I have left is what I am wearing and some uniform in the car. The hardest thing is knowing that the stuff from my dad has gone. Those memories are gone and that is tough.”

All of the families affected by the fire have been able to stay with family and friends since the incident happened.

“I’m just a bit delirious to be honest. I don’t know what to think,” added Simon.

Councillor Patricia Sullivan, ward councillor for Bamford, was on the scene this morning to check on the families affected.

Speaking to Rochdale Online she said: “I wanted to come down and check that the families were ok.

“I was coming home from the Town Hall at about 5.30pm yesterday (Wednesday 1 July) and stopped to let the fire engines through and I remember thinking, ‘oh where are they going’ and then I realised last night that they must have been coming here.

“We don’t know the cause of the fire but, luckily, everyone is safe and that is the main thing.

"We are doing everything that we can to make sure everyone affected is ok. There seems to be a good community spirit here and everyone seems to be pulling together.”