Latest news with #fireevacuation
BBC News
23-05-2025
- Climate
- BBC News
Charities aiding tenants forced to leave Sunderland flats
Volunteer workers have been drafted in to help dozens of residents sleeping on a leisure centre floor after being evacuated from a block of flats. The fire service issued a prohibition notice after a loss of power and water hit the Horizon Building in Borough Road in Sunderland city centre on city council set up a reception centre at the nearby Raich Carter Leisure Centre in Hendon for tenants with nowhere to stay. One 22-year-old tenant, who did not wish to be named, said it was "not ideal" and he wanted answers as to whether he would get back £3,400 he had paid to a letting agency for a one-bed studio flat. He said: "I've been sleeping in my office in Washington and been having to wash using bottled water."It's not ideal and I'm not getting any answers as to whether I will get the money I've paid upfront for six months if we can't go back in."Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service (TWFS) said it had no choice in issuing the order after "a loss of essential fire safety systems". The Salvation Army's divisional response co-ordinator for the North East, Major Stephen Slade, said his organisation and workers from the British Red Cross, would be on hand to help residents over the next few days. He said: "We will cope with the number of people who need help and hopefully it won't be for long as they go to friends and family over the next few days. "They are in a difficult position but the local authority is doing all it can to make sure life runs as smoothly as possible. "We are here to help people whatever situation they are in and its a privilege for us to be able to do that." The city council said it was having talks with the building's managers, who rent the flats out through letting agencies. It also said that it had also served a legal notice on managers after another power blackout last week, urging them to make sure measures to restore power more quickly were in council said many tenants were staying with friends and family, but the reception centre could provide the "basics" to make people as comfortable as possible. 'Not very comfortable' Resident Loges praised the local authority for making sure he had food and water during a "difficult time". The student from India said: "It's been difficult as I'm an international student and don't have connections in the area."I've been sleeping the sports centre and don't know what I'm going to do. The council has provided us with essentials."Serene, also a student, said she was also having to sleep in the leisure centre. "I've been in a sleeping bag on the floor and it's not very comfortable," she said. "I'm going to have to find another place to stay and it will be a huge hassle carrying all my things from the ninth floor." Follow BBC Sunderland on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Yahoo
School board member says Sparkman 9th grade school evacuated, possibly connected to internet challenge
HARVEST, Ala. (WHNT) — A Madison County School Board member says Sparkman Ninth Grade School was evacuated Friday afternoon for a possible fire, which he says may be linked to a viral TikTok trend. Madison County School Board Vice President Heath Jones said Friday afternoon the school was evacuated after there were indications of a possible fire on the first floor of the school. Jones said that local fire departments, including Harvest Volunteer Fire Department, Monrovia Volunteer Fire-Rescue and Toney Volunteer Fire & Rescue, responded and confirmed there was no active fire. He said it discovered that a metal object had been inserted into an electrical socket in a classroom, causing a spark and initiating the evacuation. The board vice president said there were no immediate threats, injuries or damage reported in the incident. However, Jones said he believes the incident may be related to a TikTok challenge. 'It has come to my attention that this incident may be linked to a trending TikTok challenge,' he said. 'I want to assure our community that those responsible will face appropriate disciplinary action. Such behavior is unacceptable and will not be tolerated in our school system.' Jones expressed gratitude for the quick action by the agencies that responded. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
