Portsmouth fire: Residents of Grafton Street apartment block 'petrified' after 'huge' blaze broke out in top-floor flat

More than 50 firefighters from stations across the area were scrambled to a ‘major’ fire today at Portsmouth City Council-owned block D in Grafton Street, Buckland, which saw ‘large’ plumes of smoke billowing from its roof.

All residents of the four-storey building were evacuated, with occupants of the neighbouring block C also told to leave.

On the scene, block D resident Elaine Rowland was waiting to see when she could go back into her flat.

The 62-year-old said: ‘There was a knock at the door to say we needed to evacuate.

‘I’m anxious now. It’s something we’ve been worried about happening.’

One resident, 20-year-old Courtney Stewart, had just come home from the dentist when the fire broke out.

‘I didn’t have a clue what was happening,’ she said.

‘There was a lot of smoke, I couldn’t believe it.’

A 15-year-old girl, who wished to remain anonymous, described what happened.

She said: ‘All of a sudden there was a loud knock at the door.

‘My mum was upstairs and I heard them (police) say there was a fire in our block.

‘I was petrified. I was a bit panicky. I don’t know if my guinea pig Custard will be OK.’

Block D resident Joanne Pearce, 53, was next door in block C with her partner Michelle Godley when they saw the flames, along with Michelle’s sons Jack and Ryan.

‘It was nerve wracking,’ Joanne said.

Michelle, 39, added: ‘They were the biggest flames I’ve ever seen.’

Jack, 14, said: ‘I just thought: “We need to get outside.”’

A spokeswoman for the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue said they received 21 calls about the incident, with the first one taken at 3.52pm.

She said: ‘The fire was ablaze in the four storey residential building, involving the roof and the top floor of a 2 level flat.

‘Crews have confirmed that the flat was not occupied, and all flats [were] evacuated and persons accounted for.’

By 5.50pm the fire was out.