THIS dramatic picture shows the smoking remains of the Broadlands lodging house which was virtually destroyed by fire on Monday evening.
Burnt-out trucks and skips stand half buried beside the charred shells of buildings that once housed more than 50 guests and staff at the recycling and waste management depot on Mont Fallu, St Peter.
All of them miraculously escaped but have been left homeless after the blaze. A relief effort has swung into action and almost all were rehoused last night and collections of money, clothes and food have already started.
Today Chief Fire Officer Mark James said that it was amazing that no one was killed or seriously injured as the inferno engulfed the site.
He said: ‘The fire went from nothing to a massive blaze in less than ten minutes.
‘It’s very fortunate that everyone got out alive from this. If this had happened during the night, it could have been a very different story.’
• Aftermath pictures by Jersey Fire and Rescue and two taken during the fire by JEP reader Luke Bratch
Article posted on 16th July, 2008 - 2.00pm
3 Article Comments
Housing qualifications has nothing to do with this. These people have lost their home and most likely a lot of their belongings. How can you be so insensitive! I am sure that if somewhere with qualies burnt down that everyone would be supportive as they have been here……there is no need, and it shows typical local attitude towards people trying to set up home on this island through much unfriendliness and unhelpfulness of many locals to try to turn this into something other than a tragedy. You should be ashamed.
My heart went out to the familys who were involved in the fire. I have lived on the island for 10 years in Aug and me and my husband are in a bed sit with a soon to be five year old and will no doubt be considered a foolish moaner who should know better. I have been looking for non qualified accom that will take two adults and a child over five as it will be illegal for us to stay where we are according to the regulations, to no avail. I expect all of these families will have alot of trouble finding ANY non qualified accom that will take children and good luck to them. I just hope our lodging house doesnt burn down aswell, because remember! tough! if there aint no accommodation, get the boat elsewhere! and of course beggars cant be choosers eh even if you thought you had both always been full time worker and had made the lovely safe jersey ‘home’.
I was home recently yes home where I was born and brought up, I am a true local with Jersey parents.I was quiet upset at the fact there are not alot of locals left, wonder why hey??
Because of all the outsiders taking up local work and homes eventually..Jersey should bring in work permits once worked then they leave after 1year none of this staying for ever..then there would not be overcrowding in lodging houses ..agree?