Glyn Clark and his 12-year-old daughter have lived in a flat on Bembridge’s Walls Road for 10 years and in that time 2 serious fires have broken out in neighbouring properties. Despite their protestations, Southern Housing – who manage the block – still haven’t installed fire alarms in the communal areas.
Now, following the most recent incident, Glyn is once again calling for communal fire alarms to be installed. He says the lack of detection equipment in shared areas remains a concern, particularly as residents had to be manually alerted to both incidents. But Southern Housing say that ‘based on expert advice’ a communal fire alarm system is not required…
The latest fire, which occurred last Friday (9th January), started after a fault with an immersion heater. Firefighters from Ryde, Newport and Sandown tackled the blaze in a ground-floor property.
At around 05:30 that morning, Glyn – who lives directly above the property that was alight – was awoken after he heard his own fire alarm going off. He opened his front door to find smoke filling the communal hallway. Glyn then woke his daughter before alerting his neighbours, who were all asleep and unaware that a fire had broken out elsewhere in the block.
With the residents outside, firefighters quickly brought the blaze under control. Thankfully, the damage was contained to the single property and Glyn and his neighbours were able to return home.
The occupant of the damaged flat, a male with hearing problems, was offered accommodation by local business The Birdham in the aftermath of the incident.
In the hours following the fire, Glyn received visits from representatives of both the Isle of Wight Council and Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service (HIWFRS), during which he made clear his wish for communal fire alarms to be installed. For the rest of the day, amidst the wrath of Storm Goretti, Glyn had to open all the windows in his flat to help air the smoke-ridden property.
In January 2022, 4 years before the most recent fire, a much more sombre incident occurred.
Firefighters from stations across the Isle of Wight rushed to the scene after receiving reports of billowing smoke from the flat next door to Glyn. The occupant, Ms Gillian Cox, was taken to Southampton General Hospital but sadly died 2 days later.
In the aftermath, local residents expressed anger that no appliances from Bembridge Fire Station – just 100m down the road – responded to the fire. In May 2025, HIWFRS announced that Bembridge Fire Station would close.
In July 2025, HM Senior Coroner for the Isle of Wight, Caroline Sumeray, concluded that Ms Cox’s death was the result of an accident, most likely caused by smoking in bed.
After her death, residents were told the alarm inside Ms Cox’s property was ineffective once the fire took hold because it had been severely damaged.
Speaking to Island Echo about the events of that evening, Glyn said he feared for his home as he watched the flames engulf the block.
“I heard some knocking and assumed it was in my loft. I went up to check and noticed the smoke coming through the breeze blocks.
“When we were all evacuated I feared for the flat as I saw the flames lick over the roof.”
On that occasion, as with the more recent fire, fellow residents had to be woken by banging on their doors rather than by a communal fire alarm.
Glyn and his neighbours have tried repeatedly to get communal alarms installed, but so far their attempts have fallen on deaf ears. They have been told the building meets all fire regulations and is already considered ‘safe’.
Signage in the hallway advises residents what to do in the event of a fire. Island Echo understands that similar signs elsewhere in the building were taken down after the fatal fire in 2022, though this one (pictured below) remains.
Speaking to Island Echo, Glyn has said:
“At the moment we are just happy to be safe, but we don’t want to be living like this, fearing that we might lose everything we’ve got.
“We have already had one horrible incident and another serious fire more recently. I’m living in fear at the moment that it could happen again – at any time and we don’t have an communal alarm to warn us of a fire in another property.
“I don’t feel safe living in my own home.”
Southern Housing has responded to concerns, saying that it takes fire safety extremely seriously and keeping residents safe in their homes is its top priority. But the housing association says the ‘stay put’ strategy in place is adequate and communal alarms are not needed.
In a statement, a spokesperson has said:
“We carry out regular fire safety checks and assessments to ensure our buildings are managed safely.
“We’re investigating the fire which happened on Walls Road, Bembridge, on 9 January and have been supporting the affected resident. We understand incidents like this can be distressing for all residents.
“The building is designed to protect residents in their home if there is a fire in another flat. Our recent Fire Risk Assessment at Walls Road confirmed the block supports a ‘stay put’ evacuation strategy. This approach is supported by the building’s construction, which is intended to prevent the spread of fire. An independent fire engineer has reviewed the building and confirmed it meets the requirements for this approach. We write to residents annually to ensure they are clear on what to do in the event of a fire.
“Based on expert advice and the building’s ‘stay put’ strategy, a communal fire alarm system is not required. We keep our fire safety measures under review and would act if professional advice changes.
“We’re aware of two fire incidents in the last four years that have occurred in Walls Road and the adjacent block. In both cases, the fires were contained within the individual flats and did not spread further.
“Our fire safety team attended site today (Thursday 15 January) and has confirmed the signage in place supports the ‘stay put’ evacuation strategy. However, we will be removing two signs on the first floor that mention alarms in the common parts, as these detract from the ‘stay put’ messaging.
“We would urge any resident with concerns about fire safety to get in touch with us”.
I’m amazed that there are no communal alarms. Flats are death traps in many ways. This needs sorting out!
The building construction may well reduce the spread of fire, but I highly doubt it reduces smoke, which is 50-80% of the cause of fire deaths.
Anyone caught in that situation, where their flat fills with smoke will automatically open the windows, creating a pathway for the fire to move towards.
For the sake of a few hundred quid the HA are taking a very big and unnecessary risk.
Keep shouting Glyn.
For goodness sake. The fire engineer has visited the site and reassured everyone that the building is safe. Two previous fires have proven that the fires were contained to the flats they originated in. Smoke alarms are installed in each flat, and if residents didn’t hear their own alarms they’re even less likely to hear communal ones.
Well said!
Smoke resulting from fire contains carbon monoxide which kills. AN independent fire engineer and SH’s own engineer have deemed THE BUILDING safe from actual fire, not the fire brigade, and not FB recommendations for the hazards from smoke and the need for extra safety precautions, which are only that, recommendations. Like the recommendations that were not adhered to in other areas pertaining to the risks of mould, until it became law due to a death. Or, for that matter, Grenfell tower’s engineers ‘yeah it’ll be ok’ attitude.
That’s why you have an alarm system in the building that can detect a fire in the hallways as well as in the tenants flat/apartment and the alarms detect a fire anywhere in the building? Hence alarm goes off in the flat/ apartment/ hallways
Southern housing association doesn’t care about their tenants
Is it not a legal requirement in blocks of flats/ apartments to have communal smoke detectors?
sort it out HA is it worth someone’s life not to do it??
Yes it is.
Could Glyn not complain to the Ombudsman ?