STUNNED residents whose block of flats was ravaged by fire will be demanding answers at a meeting next week.

Scott Randles, whose flat suffered extensive water damage in the devastating blaze, is putting up posters around the Fulford Place complex inviting residents to attend the meeting so they can ask for answers on how the fire started.

The main issues likely to be addressed at the meeting are:

What started the fire?

Are building regulations safe?

Who is responsible for checking water hydrants?

Buildings insurance: what residents need to know.

Chiefs from Yorkshire Water, the fire service, City of York Council and developer Taylor Woodrow - which built the flats - are also being invited, along with MP Hugh Bayley and local councillor Andy D'Agorne.

Scott said: "I think the main thing is that we really need to understand went wrong and why they couldn't put the fire out. We need to make sure this doesn't happen again.

"I don't want to have a meeting where everyone is having a go at each other. I want to have an opportunity to get our cards on the table."

A spokeswoman for Taylor Woodrow said the company would look at any invitation it received and study the agenda for the meeting before deciding whether to come.

Investigating fire officer Trevor Lund said the fire service would support any residents' meeting.

But Yorkshire Water said they would not attend.

Coun D'Agorne said he would be "more than happy" to come along to the conference.

"I hope it will be productive in terms of any lessons that can be learned," he said.

"My concerns about fire precautions will hopefully be addressed.

"I think it's important that everyone understands the background as much as possible. It will at least be reassuring to hear aspects of the operation that (residents) weren't aware of."

A City of York Council spokeswoman, said: "The council's building control team is still assisting the fire brigade with their investigation and it would be inappropriate to comment before the outcome." The Fulford fire swept through 50 flats and took 80 firefighters nine hours to bring under control last Friday. It is believed to have started in the roof.

The meeting is to be held at the Evening Press offices in Walmgate at 7pm on Thursday.

Updated: 09:33 Saturday, May 21, 2005