Council supports fire evacuees in Kidsgrove
Residents who were evacuated from their homes last night (Tuesday, 5 November) after a fire in Kidsgrove are receiving support from Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council.
The borough council responded swiftly to a late night call from Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service by quickly setting up a temporary overnight rest centre at Jubilee2 – with help from an incident management team comprising of council staff – for households who were unable to return to their apartments, on Ravenscliffe Road, following the incident.
Seven flats were evacuated by crews as a precaution while the fire, contained inside a storage room detached from the main flat block, was brought under control. The council provided emergency accommodation, and refreshments, for three people overnight – with a fourth joining them early this morning – while four others managed to find alternative housing.
Cllr. Gill Heesom, Cabinet member for Community Safety and Well-being, said:
The council has a comprehensive civil contingencies plan which is ready to launch into action whenever there is an emergency in the borough.
Our director on call attended the scene to liaise with the fire service and partner agencies. Because of the time of night, there were no hotels available so a decision was taken to set up a temporary rest centre at Jubilee2 to keep the evacuated residents safe and warm.
I would like to thank the council staff who answered the call and set up the centre. They stepped up brilliantly; the evacuees were really appreciative of the assistance we provided. We hope our guests can return to their homes later today. We will continue to support them if needed over the course of today, and tonight, if necessary.”