Residents of a block of flats in Cardiff have been left homeless after a huge fire tore through the building, gutting the roof and filling the street with thick clouds of smoke. Fire crews were called to the scene of the blaze at the two-storey building on Greenway Road, Rumney at 11pm on Friday, July 15.
Six fire engines attended to deal with the blaze, including an aerial appliance and a water bowser, with the fire finally brought under control at 9.35am on Saturday, July 16, with police, gas workers and council staff also all seen at the flats in the morning. The cause of the fire is yet to be confirmed.
While all residents made it out alive and uninjured, the majority of the eight flats in the building have been destroyed, with the roof reduced to its structural beams after being burnt out.
Read more: Police launch murder investigation around nightclub after 47-year-old dies
Those who lived in the flats are now reflecting on the night's events, with many now left homeless after the fire gutted much of the building. Resident Roberto Sannino said he was at home when the fire broke out on Thursday night and only realised the building was ablaze after being alerted by a group of teenagers who saw the flames from a nearby field.
"Three or four them were banging on the door," he said. "They said there was a fire and they could see it from Greenway Field. Our neighbour’s shed, two doors away, was on fire. I got my two kids up straight away and we got out. It didn’t look that bad at first but it just escalated from there. Fire crews were here all night until 3 or 4am.
While he admits he and his family were lucky to escape uninjured, Mr Sannino says the fire has left them homeless. When he spoke to WalesOnline on Saturday morning, he had not yet been allowed back inside to see what remained of his flat, with investigating teams still checking the structural integrity of the building.
“That’s me homeless now," he said. "I haven’t been able to get back in this morning as they’re doing investigations still. But I’m grateful to the ones who banged on my door and alerted us to the fire, if it weren’t for them, it could have been a lot worse. I’m just so thankful my kids are safe.”
Landlord William Stewart got a call from his tenant who lived in one of the flats at 2am, having been told by her neighbour that the building had caught fire. He said the blaze was "devastating" having owned the flat on Greenway Road for many years.
“We’ve owned this flat for many a year," he said. "But this is the first time we’ve had this sort of damage happen to any of our properties. We haven't been able to see all the damage for ourselves as we haven’t been allowed in to see it from the back yet, "
“Fortunately the tenant was away with her children and everyone in the other flats all got out ok," he added. "But it’s devastating to think that they have lost their possessions in this way."
A neighbour whose house overlooks the block of flats said the fire ripped through the building in around a quarter of an hour. He added that a number of fire engines arrived on the scene with crews battling through the night to get the blaze under control.
“It all happened very quickly," he said. "We all saw the flames at first but I don’t think any of us expected for it to go up like it did. It must have gone through the block in around 15 minutes. There were at least five fire engines here and there was a huge water tank as well.
He added: “It’s a mix of private and council-owned flats here I think. I know people who have just bought their flats there so it’s really devastating. Thankfully everyone got out ok, but it will be months until this is sorted I reckon."
A spokesman from South Wales Police said: "Police were called to a fire at a block of flats in Greenway Road, Cardiff at approximately 11pm on Friday, 15 July. A number of residents had to be evacuated from the flats and have been given temporary accommodation by the local authority. Nobody was injured.
"It is unknown at this stage what caused the fire and a joint investigation is underway between South Wales police and South Wales Fire and Rescue Service."
When the blaze was in full swing, residents of Greenway Road were warned about smoke inhalation. South Wales Fire and Rescue Service said in a tweet: "Crews are in attendance at a fire in Greenway Road, Rumney. Due to smoke and a large number of emergency vehicles in the area, local residents are advised to stay indoors and keep windows shut to keep safe. Thank you."
READ NEXT:
- Brains orders pubs to shut down and give landlords three weeks to pack their bags
-
Family attacked group of women armed with baseball bats and WKD bottles
-
'I've never felt so unwelcome' Second home owner sells up as crackdown bites
-
Two-year-old girl on life support after being found unconscious in Pontypool fountain
