2:54pm Thursday 24th January 2008
Only three of the 12 tenants from the flats destroyed in a Boxing Day blaze in Norbury had contents insurance.
The fire in Marston Way destroyed the top three storeys of the four-storey block, leaving Croydon Council with no choice but to demolish the building.
Councillor Dudley Mead, cabinet member for housing, was one of the first people at the scene on Boxing Day and on Monday he spoke about the devastation it caused.
Coun Mead said: "It really was a most ferocious fire and when I saw what it had done I must say I was shocked. We should be proud of what our officers achieved. I am aiming to rebuild it within 12 months, it is very tight but the tenants' insurance cover only protects them for one year so it will have to be done."
Less than half of the tenants and leaseholders had insurance and lost everything in the fire.
Coun Mead added: "When you are faced with tenants without any funds or possessions then the burden falls on the council. This is without doubt the biggest fire I have seen in all my time in Croydon."
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