Southend family's distress after Baryta House flat damaged by fire

Ikram Benferchiche, 27, lives with her 18-month-old son, 28-year-old husband and is due to give birth again in 11 weeks. 

On the afternoon of Friday, October 7, her two-bed flat in Baryta House, Victoria Avenue, Southend, was badly damaged by a fire which had begun on the patio outside.

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Ms Benferchiche says the fire started outside the property and quickly burnt through the windows damaging her home.

The aftermath of the blaze - Image: Ikram Benferchiche (Image: Image: Ikram Benferchiche)

“We have literally lost everything; all our possessions are ruined,” she said.

“The flat has been closed off now and we don’t know when it will be liveable again. Everything we had worked for has been taken away.”

Ms Benferchiche says her landlord, managed through Southend-based estate agents Ayers and Cruiks, have paid for an Air B&B while they find permanent accommodation.

The flat has now been boarded up - Image: Ikram Benferchiche (Image: Image: Ikram Benferchiche)

The family were offered a one-bed flat in Baryta House or their deposit back and release from the contract.

However, the 27-year-old mother says she fears returning to the building.

“Me and my young son were traumatised by the whole experience,” she said.

“Luckily we git out safely but the whole thing has left  me shock; it was so frightening.”

Charred remains (Image: Image:)

Kevin Cruiks, director of Ayers and Cruiks, said: “The building is fully fire-assessed and all the systems, such as sprinklers and alarms, were praised by fire services after this unfortunate event.

“We are sorry for what the tenants went though, they had a traumatic experience, but we have done our best to try and help them through this and have offered the only flat we have available.”

Ms Benferchiche is calling for Southend Council to step in and offer accommodation.

Councillor Ian Gilbert, responsible for economic recovery, regeneration and housing, said: “Whilst we have every sympathy with the family during what must be a terrible time, the council has a limited number of properties and a very long waiting list of families who are waiting for homes.

“Whilst we advised that we could offer hostel or bed and breakfast accommodation, which is likely to be one room with sharing facilities, it is Ayers and Cruiks responsibility to find safe and reasonable accommodation.”

An Essex County Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: “Firefighters were called to a fire in a high-rise block of flats in Victoria Avenue, Southend at 2.12pm on Friday. 

“On arrival, crews reported that there was a fire in a decking area on the ground floor that was beginning to spread into a ground floor flat. Sprinklers inside had activated and prevented the fire from spreading further. 

“Firefighters extinguished the fire by 6.15pm. An investigation into the cause of the fire is being carried out.”