Jacob Jarvis

The story

A family of eight evacuated from Leicester’s largest block of flats due to a fire feared the incident “would be the same as Grenfell”.

Goscote House in Sparkenhoe Street was cleared in the early hours of Saturday when smoke reached the upper levels of the tower following a bin fire.

Hasni Mohamed, 49, his wife Rasheeda, 43, and their six children have lived on the 17th floor for three years.

Describing the incident, Mr Mohamed said: “We heard a smoke alarm. We’d all been asleep.

“Then we could smell a bad smell, like burning. It was getting worse and worse.

“Straight away we came outside. I could see smoke from the 15th floor. All the way up, smoke.

“After Grenfell, that sort of thing was going through our heads.”

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How I got the story 

I got into the office on a Saturday morning and overnight the fire service had posted an update about a fire at a high-rise.

I decided to go along and tried to speak to residents, although getting in the tower block required a key or to be buzzed in, so I could not knock any of the doors. Instead, I had to try and ask people to speak as they headed in or out.

Eventually I got a man willing to chat. He took me upstairs and introduced me to his family, who I interviewed and photographed. I also filmed an interview with his eldest daughter. My picture of the family and a general view of the building were both used in print.

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