Residents 'never forget' one year after flats blaze

Harsha Kunku and his young family were asleep when the fire started

One year on from a fire that forced the night-time evacuation of block of flats residents have said they are still haunted by memories of the blaze.

Nearly 300 residents had to leave Mosaic Apartments, in Slough's High Street, at just after midnight on 22 August 2024, with many spending months in temporary accommodation.

Flammable cladding, which has since been removed, and strong winds helped the fire spread across the building after a balcony light fitting caught alight.

Resident Harsha Kunku said it had been "a terrible experience".

Mr Kunku and his young family were asleep when the fire started.

"Someone knocked on the door we came out and we see there was big flames growing through the top floor," he said.

"I wouldn't wish anyone to be in that situation, it was horrible."

He said ever since his eight-year-old daughter had developed a fear of fire, and became panicked whenever she heard a fire alarm.

"We had a false alarm during the night," Mr Kunki said. "She woke up and started to cry - she is still traumatised."

Nearly 300 residents were forced to leave Mosaic Apartments

Another resident, Ragesh Thahrar, has multiple sclerosis and said the fire "disrupted life completely".

He said that his apartment had previously been adapted to suit his needs, and it was hard being in temporary accommodation without knowing when he would come back.

"My wheelchair is my legs, I do everything with my wheelchair, full stop," he said.

Mr Thahrar is now back in his apartment, but said the fire was still in the back of his mind.

Flammable ACM cladding that was on the building has been removed

Resident Amana Farhan, who is now settled in her flat with her husband, said she would "never forget" that night.

She said: "It was upsetting, we had to go through it, we were having the anxiety and health conditions, it just got too much.

"We need to get our lives back to normal, whatever has just happened, just somehow push back into the back of our minds and start fresh."