Grandmother praises family who saved elderly residents from burning building

Violet Hobbs said she and her son Michael Hobbs, aged 26, and grandsons Jack Blackman, aged 19, and Liam Miles, aged 17, were heading home following a meal at London Road restaurant Toby Carvery when they saw part of retirement complex Leslie Southern Court, in Doveton Way, Newbury, up in flames.
Mrs Hobbs said initially the group had thought the smoke had been caused by a barbecue, however Liam was the first to notice the fire.
Another man named John, whose surname Mrs Hobbs did not know, also helped to save the residents.
“They jumped the wall and John and Liam went inside the flat to carry a lady and pass her through the window to Jack and Michael. There was a gentleman in there too.
“My family risked life and limb, as did John. I’m so proud of them.”
All six flats within Leslie Southern Court were affected, mostly through smoke damage, however the flat in which the fire started was badly damaged.
Landlord Sovereign Housing has moved all residents into temporary accommodation, two into hotels and four with nearby friends or family.
The residents are aged between 56 and 94, with the majority in their seventies.
The fire broke at around 7pm and it took four fire crews two hours to extinguish and make the area safe.
An air ambulance landed in the grounds of nearby St Joseph’s School, and an ambulance and rapid response vehicle also attended.
Two females and one male were treated at the scene for smoke inhalation. No-one was taken to hospital.
The fire is thought to have started in the lounge of the ground floor flat, however the cause has not yet been established.
A thorough investigation is being carried out by the Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service’s fire investigation team.
A spokesman for Sovereign Housing, Roy Probert, said: “We are still trying to ascertain the extent of the damage and are working closely with the fire service as they carry out their investigation into the possible cause of the fire.
“Sovereign staff have been on site working with the fire service and supporting residents since we heard about the fire.
“We are currently in the process of trying to find longer-term temporary accommodation for those residents who won’t be able to return to their homes for a while.
“Our housing team will continue to be in contact with all Leslie Southern Court residents, reassuring them and keeping them informed of developments.
“We are relieved that no one was hurt in this incident and that the response was quick and effective.”