By Christopher Okoye
In the early hours of Thursday May 2nd, university students in Leicester faced an unexpected evacuation from their flats after a fire erupted at a nearby industrial unit in Great Central Street.
More than 30 firefighters swiftly responded to the blaze at about 4am, with the incident operation team revealing: “There were 30-60 firefighters deployed and six appliances were used to put out fire.”
Ruby Losop, a De Montfort university student who witnessed the ordeal, explained how people were evacuated from the nearby The Tannery student accommodation.
She said: “All of us had to stand outside for four hours.
“Everyone was scared and thought our belongings were going to get burnt.”
Many students, amidst the chaos, documented the incident for social media platforms including TikTok.
The incident operation team added: “The fire affected the business owners’ houses, garages and student accommodation.”
At 10.44 am the next morning, De Montfort University communicated with all students via email, stating: “There is still significant smoke in certain areas of the campus.
“This smoke is residual from the fire, but there is no cause for alarm. Our Security Team is collaborating with emergency services and monitoring the situation closely.
“We are extending support to students affected by the incident. Exams scheduled for today will proceed as planned, including for those impacted by the fire.
“Your faculty is informed about the situation and its disruptions. If you have concerns about the impact on your exams, please contact your Faculty Student Advice Centre.”
Meanwhile, detectives were investigating the fire’s cause and urged anyone with information, such as taxi drivers or pedestrians, to come forward.
If you possess any details regarding the fire or its potential cause, you can relay information by visiting https://www.leics.police.uk/ro/report/ocr/af/how-to-report-a-crime/ and citing reference number 24*255522.
Alternatively, you may dial 111.
