Order to leave fire-risk flats 'like being shot'

Justin Elungu said he felt "destroyed" when he and his wife were told to move out

A man living in a flat deemed to fall foul of fire safety regulations has said an order to move out was "like someone shooting you in your head".

Essex County Fire and Rescue Service told residents of 20 flats in Redstone House in Harlow town centre to leave on Thursday.

Justin Elungu added that he was "so destroyed" by the instruction to leave.

The fire service said evacuating a building was considered only "when it is absolutely necessary" but on this occasion there were "significant fire safety concerns".

It said it served a prohibition notice on Dunlap Property Solutions, which has responsibility for fire safety at the building, on Wednesday evening.

Mr Elungu, 56, who has lived at Redstone House with his wife for more than seven years, said: "All of a sudden, to be told you have to leave in 24 hours [is] like someone shooting you in your head."

Mr Elungu said he was grateful to the council for finding them a hotel for the night.

Another resident, Maria, said she had left the building with "what we needed for the night" and had been booked into a hotel for a week.

She added: "We've been told we can leave furniture there for now until we can get somewhere."

Redstone House is in the centre of Harlow

Assistant Chief Fire Officer James Taylor said it was clear the property, next to Harlow Library in Crown Street, did not meet fire regulations.

"If there was a fire in the building, this would mean residents would not be able to evacuate quickly and safely, which would put residents at a higher risk of serious injury or death," he said.

"It would therefore have been highly irresponsible for our service not to immediately prohibit the use of the building."

Dan Swords said his council had been working "round the clock" to help residents

Dan Swords, leader of Harlow Council, said the authority was "working closely with the building owner and other partners to support all those affected, with the priority to ensure all residents are supported into alternative accommodation".

He added: "From the time we were advised of the formal decision by ECFRS, our teams have been working around the clock so we are ready to assist."