RESIDENTS of a blaze-hit tower block are demanding that authorities install sprinklers after fire tore through a 12th-storey flat.

Southampton’s 187ft Redbridge Towers was engulfed in black smoke on Sunday evening, with more than 50 firefighters called to the scene.

PHOTOS AND VIDEO: Woman arrested on suspicion of arson after blaze at Southampton tower block >>>

A 28-year-old woman was arrested yesterday by police in connection with the fire, on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life, with police continuing investigations.

Fortunately no one was seriously injured – just one person was treated for smoke inhalation.

The fire came just days after the seventh anniversary of the deaths of Alan Bannon and James Shears, who were killed battling a fire at Shirley Towers, which was then fitted with a sprinkler system.

Now tenants of the 19-storey Redbridge Towers are calling for the same standard of safety.

Their calls have been backed by Redbridge councillor Andrew Pope, as well as fire service sector commander Simon Packer.

Cllr Pope said: “I have spoken to more residents since the incident and a picture is emerging from the block about the incident. I am also making enquiries to Southampton City Council as to why there are no sprinklers in Redbridge Towers.

“I understand that Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service recommend that all high-rise blocks have sprinklers installed.”

Ron Trivett, 59, lives next door to the flat that was gutted by Sunday evening’s blaze. His apartment suffered smoke damage.

He said: “I’m looking at my kitchen with tears in my eyes because of the smoke; within ten minutes this fire was raging.”

Mr Trivett paid tribute to his friend Shaun Brown who came to check on his safety as the fire took hold.

“If it wasn’t for one of my friends, Shaun, I might not be here talking now,” said Mr Trivett.

Mr Brown, 48, who lives on the 16th floor, said: “There was so much black smoke, I just came down to see if Ron was OK. I have a ten-year-old son with Down’s Syndrome and if he was with me, I’d have been scared for his safety after seeing that fire.

“I was definitely fearful for those on the 12th floor.

“It would be great to see sprinklers here, at least in the communal area.”

Another resident, who did not wish to be named, said: “They should put every safety measure they can in here.”

The plea for sprinklers has been echoed by the fire’s sector commander Simon Packer, who told the Echo: “I would love to see sprinklers in every property but it’s a monetary issue, the fire departments certainly can’t afford to pay for it.”

He said that the flats are safe from fire for at least 60 minutes if the doors and windows are kept closed.

“The only time they should leave is if the fire starts to appear in their flat,” he said.

The Daily Echo asked the city council why Redbridge Towers does not have a sprinkler system. The authority issued a joint statement with Hampshire Fire and Rescue, which did not directly address that issue.

However the council said sprinklers were being fitted at Shirley Towers, Albion Towers and Sturminster House, which were thought to be at greater risk because of the split level design of the flats, as part of a £1m programme of work.

The statement added: “It must be stressed that all of the buildings are safe at the moment, and this is about making them even safer. Each flat in our tower blocks (including the scissor blocks) is designed to contain a fire within its walls.

“This enables other occupants to shelter in place until fire service personnel arriving upon the scene can prioritise their evacuation, as was done successfully at Redbridge Towers and other recent flat fires in Southampton.”

Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service area manager Kevin Evenett said: “The building has been built to fire safety standards. Each compartment has been designed to contain fire and prevent it from developing to other parts of the building. In this case the affected apartment contained the fire well and protected other residents.”