4:00pm Thursday 9th July 2009
By Richard Gurner
A man has been questioned by police over a major fire at a hostel which left 60 people homeless.
Sussex Police yesterday revealed they had arrested a 29-year-old Brighton man on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life following Tuesday's blaze at Brighton YMCA in Old Steine.
The man was arrested in Hove and quizzed before being released on bail until August 13 while officers carry out further inquiries.
Police would not say if he was a resident at the hostel.
The blaze started on the first floor of the hostel at about 4.50pm. Twelve fire crews from across the city and from Barcombe and Lewes fought to contain the fire by 6pm.
A spokesman for Brighton and Hove City Council said staff managed to house everyone in temporary accommodation with people being housed in hotels and bed and breakfasts in the city and Eastbourne.
Its efforts however were criticised by some of the homeless residents.
Daniel Coe, 25, said the Salvation Army and Red Cross were helping with clothes and other essentials but that not enough was being done to help people.
He said: “We are very grateful but at the end of the day if this was someone else it would be different.
“I knew a girl who when her flat went up in flames they gave her a £200 voucher for clothes.
“We were sent to the Job Centre to fill in forms which aren't going to be processed until Friday.
“We haven't had a hot meal, we are not getting fed – it's a nightmare.
“Where's the organisation? Where are the people who deal with these cases? They put us in places with no cooking facilities.”
In response to the residents' criticism a spokesman for Brighton and Hove City Council said: “The response of our dedicated and hard working staff to this situation was first rate and we vehemently reject any suggestion otherwise.
“More than 30 officers worked through the night, many not stopping for well over 24 hours, to re-house the 60 residents affected.”
The exact cause of the blaze was still being investigated yesterday.
© Copyright 2001-2012 Newsquest Media Group
http://www.theargus.co.uk/trade_directory/