A Few Days On: Reflections on the Marigold Road Fire
- Daisy Steel
- 15 hours ago
- 4 min read
It has been a few days now since the fire on Marigold Road and the shock in the community is still very real. On Wednesday evening a blaze ripped through a block of flats, forcing residents to evacuate as flames and thick smoke filled the night sky. By the time crews brought the fire under control in the early hours of Thursday, part of the roof had collapsed and nine households had lost their homes.
Some stories only sink in once the urgency has passed. Now that we are a few days on, the scale of the upheaval is clearer and so is the strength of the community response.
When I spoke to resident Chloe Raeburn she described the moment she realised something was terribly wrong. She had seen smoke at the top of the building, then heard the alarm. A neighbour shouted for her to get out. Within moments the entire block was under a cloud of smoke.
Chloe told me the smoke was the thing she struggled with most as it was everywhere. She and others watched debris falling onto nearby cars and could do nothing but stand outside and see their building, their home, change before their eyes. It was traumatic, she said. There was no other word for it.
Crews from Frome, Yeovil, Wells and Street worked through the night to get everyone out and bring the fire under control. Thankfully no one was seriously injured. One person was treated for smoke inhalation and nine flats were left uninhabitable.
Selwood Housing moved residents into hotels and is working on longer term plans. They say it is impossible to know yet how long repairs will take. Some people are unlikely to return anytime soon and three of the flats have suffered particularly severe damage. With Christmas approaching, it’s left many feeling unsettled and uncertain.
Chloe told me she is grateful for the kindness that’s poured in. For some, there are families nearby who have stepped in. Others, like Chloe, live alone. She said Frome has been quick to offer bedding, clothes and household items and that these gestures have meant a great deal during such a frightening time.
Elsewhere, the response has been immediate. Fair Frome has been co-ordinating emergency supplies for those who lost everything. When I spoke with Lenka Grimes from the foodbank she told me the situation is awful and that the building is in poor condition. This will be a long road back for many. Even so, Lenka said the same thing I have heard again and again. Everybody just wants to help.
The town council has been looking at ways to support residents. The mayor, Anita Collier, says the council has been shocked and saddened by what happened but incredibly grateful that everyone got out safely. Partner organisations are already in touch to explore practical help.
Out of something frightening and uncertain we are seeing the familiar qualities of kindness and support that Frome is known for. Offers of clothes. Spare rooms. Toiletries. Food. Messages sent late at night to people who have lost their safe space. Small acts of care that mean everything to someone who has walked out of a building with nothing but their phone and keys.
There will be more updates in the coming days as Selwood Housing assesses the full extent of the damage. A structural engineer will visit the site and only then will residents know when - or even if - they can return.
For now, nine households are living out of bags in hotels. Some are making backup Christmas plans. Others are still trying to process the shock of watching their home burn. What they all share is the hope that the community will stay close around them for as long as it takes.
Frome does this better than most. This week has proved it again. If you would like to support the residents affected, Fair Frome is coordinating donations of toiletries, basic food items and other essentials. There is also an ongoing need for clothes, bedding and practical supplies for those who have lost everything. Even the smallest gesture can make a huge difference right now.
This incident also highlights a growing challenge: Frome Fire Station urgently needs more recruits. They’re looking for people to join as full-time or on-call firefighters, with training available. Without enough crew members, response times and emergency coverage become harder to maintain.
Anyone interested can email recruitment@dsfire.gov.uk for details on how to get involved.
If you’ve got a story which needs to be heard, please get in touch with Becky at Fabulous Frome at: becky@fabulousfrome.co.uk or Daisy from When in Frome at: daisy.gray@itv.com.
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