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Camden New Journal - by PAUL KEILTHY
Published: 21 June 2007

Jetta Oliner with her daughter Grace and partner Alan Nugent with the fire-damaged flats in the tower block behind them

Terror as tower block is hit by blaze

FAMILIES who were trapped in a burning tower block have spoken of their terror before they were led to safety by ‘magnificent’ firefighters on Tuesday night.
Jetta Oliner, along with her 12-year-old daughter Grace and partner Alan Nugent, was one of 38 people evacuated from the
18-storey Bucklebury block in Stanhope Street, Regent’s Park, when a eighth-floor flat erupted in flames at midnight.
Standing in the block’s blackened emergency stairwell yesterday, she described how
firefighters smashed down her door.
Ms Oliner said: “I smelled the smoke and heard people shouting and realised what was happening. I got everyone dressed and we stepped outside the door. But before we had gone three steps we couldn’t breathe or see – the smoke was thick and white – and I was thinking this is it.
“We went back in and put towels round the door and went out on the balcony. They took Gracie down first and then led us down.”
Dozens of residents said they could not flee the block because thick smoke streamed up both fire escape stairwells, and relied on the fire service to lead them to safety.
Ferehiwo Abebe, 36, and her three young children were trapped in their 17th-storey flat. She said: “I think some of the doors don’t close and that is the only safety you have. Some of the fire doors are missing, too.”
Thirty firefighters tackled the blaze.
The occupant of the flat where the fire began was taken to hospital for treatment for smoke inhalation.
A fire brigade spokesman said the cause of the fire was thought to be a cooking accident.

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