A WORRIED mother has called for a landlord to install smoke alarms in his building as soon as possible.

Almost three weeks on from an arson attack at Manhattan Court in Tongdean Lane, Brighton, the building’s owner Simon Curling has still not put extra safety measures in place despite residents raising concerns.

Yobs torched an electrical box before burning a sofa in the communal hallways late at night on May 7. The blazes were only noticed by residents as there are no smoke alarms in the areas the fires were started.

Homeowners spoke of their shock at the absence of the devices and, weeks later, are nervous Mr Curling, boss of Manhattan Court Management which owns the site, has still not taken action.

Mother-of-two Raven Phoenix, 35, wants Mr Curling to get smoke alarms in now.

She said: “It has been really scary since. My eldest daughter Bella is seven. She’s been having nightmares since the fire.

“We heard the first one and got out, but slept through the second one. It could have come through our flat and no one would have known we were here. I would be able to sleep much better if I new there were smoke alarms in the hallways.

“Management have to get alarms in immediately.

“It’s people’s lives at risk.”

Some families needed rescuing from their flats after the first fire at 9.40pm, with the next one at 12.34am. The incidents are being treated as arson.

Ms Phoenix said she is considering moving over concerns for her family’s safety.

A statement from Manhattan Court Management said: “We are both shocked and disappointed that the thoughtless and reckless actions of an individual can potentially place the lives of others at risk.

“We are fortunate that Manhattan Court is constructed to a modern standard and supports a stay put policy, which would not require a fire alarm in the common ways. “However, as would naturally be expected in the circumstances, we are reviewing our fire safety provisions across our portfolio.

“To ensure that we have an appropriate level of professionalism in this we have commissioned the trusted professionals at Dex Allen Fire Associates Ltd to undertake this review. We are pleased to inform Argus readers that they have visited Manhattan Court with the Brighton and Hove City Council housing officer to discuss some pragmatic risk reduction measures and we have acted quickly and already started to respond to the early recommendations made as part of that review.

“We have become acutely aware of the damage and emotional trauma that crimes like arson can cause and again would like to thank The Argus for raising the profile of this issue, alongside the police and East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service.

“We would recommend all property management companies employ the services of a professional fire safety consultancy to assist them with risk management.”

Anyone with information about the attacks should call Sussex Police on 101 quoting serial 1415 of 07/05.