Breaking: Blaze Erupts on 12th Floor of Southampton Tower Block
A fierce fire tore through the 12th floor of a 19-storey tower block in Southampton’s Redbridge area on Sunday evening. Flames, believed to have started in a kitchen, lit up the skyline and sparked a huge emergency response.
Massive Emergency Response: Fifty Firefighters Battle Blaze
Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service scrambled fifty firefighters from across the city to tackle the inferno at Redbridge Towers on Cuckmere Lane. Reports of thick smoke filling corridors on the 12th and 13th floors triggered frantic calls just after 5pm.
- Seven ambulances, twenty police officers, and ten fire crews rushed to the scene.
- Neighbourhood sealed off with a large police cordon.
- Residents evacuated amid choking smoke and flying debris.
“I was led through thick acrid smoke to escape. The flat was totally gutted, windows bursting as crews arrived,” said one shaken resident.
Firefighters Recall Tragic Shirley Towers Blaze
The disaster struck just days after the seventh anniversary of the deadly Shirley Towers fire, where two firefighters lost their lives battling a blaze caused by collapsing cabling. The community remains on edge as Hampshire Fire treats this as a major incident.
Safety Warnings and Ongoing Investigation
Authorities have advised all residents to stay put for safety reasons. Neighbours suspect a candle may have sparked the fire, but the cause remains under investigation.
- Ten fire pumps and an aerial ladder platform were deployed.
- South Central Ambulance brought in the Hazard Area Response Team.
- Road closures implemented to aid emergency access.
UPDATE: Hampshire Fire confirms everyone escaped unharmed, with minor smoke inhalation treated at the scene. The blaze was contained to a single flat, which suffered severe damage. Police and fire services will conduct a joint probe into the cause. Temporary accommodation will be offered to those displaced.
