Family 'overwhelmed' by community help after fire

14 hours ago

Alex PopeNorthamptonshire

News image — All the occupants of the house in Rothwell managed to escape the fire

Paul Graham A fire-damaged bedroom, with charred remains. There are two windows, that have been destroyed. You can see through the windows to sheds and trees. — All the occupants of the house in Rothwell managed to escape the fire

A man whose aunt and uncle's home was destroyed in a fire said the family have been "overwhelmed" by the outpouring of support from the community.

The blaze broke out in the three-storey home of Andrew and Corrina Clarke on Horse Fair Lane, Rothwell, Northamptonshire, on 30 July.

Their nephew, Jake Clarke, said the family lost most of their belongings after a "faulty extension" lead caught fire on the second floor and then spread to the top floors and loft.

Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue confirmed the cause of the fire was accidental and was from an electrical fault.

Paul Graham The outside of a home that has been severely burned by a fire. The home is made from red brick, a window is no longer there, and smoke damage has risen up the outside wall. A white window is open to the right and two shut windows to the right. — The property has been severely damaged and the family rehomed

Jake said his uncle, aunt and four children managed to escape the fire in the rented home through the front door but "not much was salvageable".

"The cause was a faulty extension lead that had a lamp and an electric toothbrush plugged in it - that caught fire just after midnight."

The fire service confirmed it was called at 02:00 BST on 30 July and the blaze was out by about 08:00.

He said the family had been placed into temporary accommodation but sadly did not have contents insurance due to financial pressures.

Jake said: "They lost everything, clothes, furniture, the only thing that was salvageable was one of their children's Xboxes.

"I learned about the fire the morning after. I went to the house and asked if it was OK to put something on social media to help them, on a local community group.

"The outpouring of support was overwhelming, we had hundreds of messages and donations offering clothes, furniture, glassware, shoes, everything you would need in a house.

"The whole community rallied around."

Paul Graham A fire damaged bedroom, with charred remains. There are lots of items around the room, but you cannot make out what they were. There are beds with some springs on them. — The family lost most of their belongings including clothes and shoes

Jake added: "There was an unreal amount of people offering things and they even delivered them, it was absolutely amazing. But make sure you have insurance."

Jake also advised people to check for any cracks in cables, exposed wire and to ensure they all meet UK regulations.

"We are extremely thankful and grateful for everyone's patience and help as it's taken us a while to get through all the messages, they now just need to get an itinerary together of what they need as they don't want to take anything that's not needed," Jake said.