CALLS have been made today to review evacuation procedures at Southampton tower blocks after fires broke out on nine stories of a city high-rise.
Dozens of people, including young families, were trapped in the 140ft tower block by smoke and fumes.
Now residents and the local councillor would like to see evacuation and security measures reviewed to ensure the potentially fatal incident does not happen again.
City councillor Richard Williams said: "There is a genuine security issue. We have seen youths manage to break on to the roof of an adjacent block and throw objects including buckets of paint off the side and now this.
"I don't understand why the block was not fully evacuated. There should have been a warden on duty to raise the alarm if not in that block then certainly in one of the other blocks.
"I will be raising the issue at the next council meeting because this affects any tower block across the city.
"It would be opportunistic to have a review of emergency evacuation procedures and check every resident knows what to do."
As people were settling down to prepare their evening meal on Friday, Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service were called to Hampton Towers in International Way, Weston where small fires had broken out on nine floors in the 13-floor tower block.
Although some residents were evacuated none required hospital treatment although many said they were unaware of what was happening.
Resident Toni Talbot, 23, said she looked outside her front door on floor 11 and the hall was full of smoke and her four young children were frightened the building would burn down.
She said: "When I saw the smoke I knew it was serious but no one came to knock on our door or tell us to get out."
Spokesman Mike Gates for Hampshire Fire and Rescue said that in an ideal situation everyone should familiarise themselves with exits and have an emergency suitcase in case of such an incident occurring.
"The fire service always wants people to have an evacuation plan," he said.
"It's up to the property owners and residents to familiarise themselves with the emergency exits no matter where they live."
Police have charged 48-year-old refuse collector Robert Tugby, of Hampton Towers, Weston, with arson and recklessly endangering life in connection with the incident. He was due to appear at Southampton Magistrates' Court today.
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