A couple faced a terrifying escape from a fire – believed to have been caused by a firework – which destroyed their home.
Richard and Karolyn Ward, who live in Hallgate Holbeach, settled in to watch the New Year countdown on television just before midnight – their daughter Mollie, 10 safe in bed – and to catch a glimpse of some live fireworks happening nearby.
By the early hours they faced a terrifying escape to safety as fire spread from their garden shed, setting alight the downstairs of their home, and destroying the neighbouring property owned by Jayden Nightingale who was away at the time.
Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue attend the blaze at Hallgate, Holbeach. PHOTO: SUBMITTED
Mrs Ward, 39, said: “As we got into bed we had the blind open to be able to see the local fireworks and after it had gone a bit quiet I saw smoke coming from our shed.
“I asked Richard if the shed was smoking or if it was the atmosphere from the fireworks.
“He jumped out of bed, went downstairs and saw flames shooting out of the shed and screamed to us to get out of the front window.”
Five fire engines were called out to the incident on New Years’ Eve
Luckily Richard, who works at Kinder Garden Plants in Spalding, had the forethought to take his car keys as Karolyn and Mollie – in their pyjamas – climbed out of the downstairs window to get into the car.
The property only has a back door and no other access into the house so climbing out of the window was their only means of escape.
Karolyn said: “I pushed my daughter out of the window and grabbed her pet budgie.
“By then people were screaming and on their phones to the fire brigade.
“I had my phone in one hand and the budgie cage in the other but the flames were coming and I had to drop everything and get into the car.”
Sadly Mollie’s pet budgie died and the family have lost all their belongings.
Mrs Ward, a practitioner at Smartie Pants Day Nursery, said “I feel so guilty but we did have some good news when we found Mollie’s pet rabbit.
“Its real name is Titch but we call it Houdini as it had burrowed into a tunnel and dug its way out – we found it hopping around the garden.
“It’s not the house or the car – we are all alive and kicking – but 20 years of our life has gone.”
Mrs Ward, who lives five minutes from the Holbeach Fire Station believes it took 45 minutes for the brigade to turn up – with Spalding fire officers the first on the scene.
She also believes that there were two fires – the initial one affecting downstairs – but reignited later on by the wind after the fire brigade had left which set alight Mr Nightingale’s property.
She said: “We left the property just after 2am and they told me the fire was out.
“The police stayed there to arrange for it to be boarded up.
“The next thing I see is pictures on Facebook and neighbours saying your house is still burning.
“Then it set alight Jayden’s house and everyone had to be evacuated at 6am – that fire was worse than the first fire.”
A spokesperson from Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue has confirmed the initial call was 00.09am and crews attended shortly afterwards – the crews left the scene shortly before 3am (02.51am) and reattended the site at 06.06am.
The first crew to arrive was Long Sutton at 00.22 after crews were called out at 00.09 and this was followed by the Spalding crew five minutes later at 00.27.
The Holbeach crew did not attend initially and crews left the scene shortly before 3am and reattended after 6am to reports of reignition and Spalding fire crews arrived first at 06.22am followed by by Long Sutton at 06.28am.
Although initial investigations have found the most likely probable cause to be a firework, investigations into the incident are continuing.
The family is staying with relatives for the time being and have the arduous talk of sorting out insurance at what should have been a positive start to the new year.
Mrs Ward, who is due to celebrate her 40th birthday at the end of this month, said: “We are at my mother in law’s at the minute.
“We are not sleeping that much – just coping.
“My daughter is scared to go upstairs so we have been sleeping on the sofa.”
A Go Fund Me page set up by Richard’s sister Emily Ward has now reached £6,749 and neighbours have donated toys, clothes and electrical items including mobile phones to the family.
Mrs Ward said: “It’s the baby photos that we can’t get back.
“Mollie’s certificates, birthday cards and pictures she made.
“Stuff can be replaced but memories can’t be.”
A similar page set up on behalf of Mr Nightingale currently stands at £3,113 and a neighbouring property owned by an elderly couple has also sustained damage from the fire.
Mrs Ward, who will be taking a week off from work, added: “We are overwhelmed with stuff now – and in the kindest way possible we don’t need any more stuff – we are so grateful.
“We want Jayden to search through some stuff that he may need, I don’t want Jayden to be forgotten about.
“I’ve never seen such community spirit – help from complete strangers – and we want to say thank you.”
Richard, Karolyn and Mollie are being supported by both sides of their family and face the prospect of the house being rebuilt.
A spokesperson from Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue said: “Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue were called to a property in Hall Gate, Holbeach, just after midnight on 1 January after reports of a fire.
“Five fire engines attended. No injuries were reported but one house was destroyed by the fire. The first floor and roof of an adjoining property were also damaged.
“An investigation is underway to determine the cause of the blaze, initial findings suggest the fire could have been caused by a firework.”
Richard’s sister Emily Ward who lives in Wyberton, said: “You think, this year is going to be your year and something like this happens.
“The most important thing is that they are safe.
“People have been so generous and we thank them from the bottom of our hearts.”
Visit https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-my-friend-jayden-who-lost-his-house-to-a-house-fire and https://www.gofundme.com/f/rnehd-my-brother-and-family?cdn-cache=0 for further information.
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