Redacted incident report indicates fire spread through gaps or voids in construction at low-rise SNG block

The incident was scaled down overnight with one crew remaining in the morning, continuing to dampen down the block, and there were no casualties. But 19 flats were destroyed.

HIWFRS officers then worked with emergency planning teams, the local authority, SNG and the British Red Cross to support and rehouse affected residents, with a local church set up initially for those evacuated from their homes.

In response to the incident report, HIWFRS said: “They [the engineering and consultation team] consider that fire spread through the structure would be expected in a building of timber-framed construction, however we have not been able to carry out an inspection at the property to determine the building’s fire protection standard because entry to the building has been deemed unsafe due to structural instability following the fire.

“We continue to liaise with the housing association as to the structural stability of the building in order to determine if/when a fire investigation may be safely carried out.”

Carol Delaney, asset safety and compliance director at SNG, said: “Our customers’ safety is our top priority. Since the fire at Dairy Court, as well as supporting customers who have been affected, we have been working closely with expert contractors and the fire service to ascertain the circumstances of the fire. Those investigations are ongoing and so we can’t provide further comment either on those or the IRS report.

“All 40 households living in Dairy Court were evacuated. Some households have been permanently rehoused already and more are expected to move into alternate permanent homes very soon. Others are staying in some form of temporary accommodation and we expect a number of those households will be able to return to their homes soon.

“We’re working closely with Test Valley Borough Council to find appropriate alternate accommodation for those who still need it.

“Customers affected by the Dairy Court fire have a lead SNG contact for their queries. We’ve been holding weekly drop-ins at the council’s offices and we’re keeping customers updated through regular communications. We’re very grateful for their patience and flexibility and we will continue to support them.”