Homeowner’s thanks for help after Christmas fire
9:00pm Wednesday 28th December 2011 in Local News
A HOMEOWNER has praised all those who helped save her house from burning down on Christmas Day.
Firefighters from West Mersea and Colchester were called to a property in Church Road, West Mersea, after reports of smoke and an explosion.
But “fantastic” firefighters and eagle-eyed friends and neighbours meant the fire was contained to the extension.
Owner Pat Kirby said: “It could have been a disaster, but it turned out to be an inconvenience.”
Miss Kirby was helping to clear up after a local church service when a friend rushed to say her house was on fire and they could not get an answer from those inside.
Her partner Mike Davies, and his friend, were upstairs when the fire started.
She said: “They heard a bang and saw the smoke.
“They were getting out of the house when my friend came and got me.”
Fire crews were called at about 10.45am on Christmas Day after reports of a fire.
They broke through a door at the end of the property to get the hose reels inside and used breathing apparatus while tackling the fire.
It is thought the fire began at the back of a fridge freezer and spread through a hall but was delayed by a thick former front door between the extension and the main part of the house.
This delay gave fire crews the chance to arrive and put out the flames.
Miss Kirby said: “Thirty minutes before Mike had been to get the meat out for the Christmas dinner – and we were still able to have it although it was later and a bit different. The house itself was untouched.
“If it had happened at night it could have been much worse than a delayed and smoky dinner.”
She thanked everyone for their kindness during and since the fire.
She added: “We had so many offers from neighbours and friends afterwards, we could have had several dinners.
“We consider ourselves very fortunate and are thankful to God, and our friends for all the help. Having just been to church and heard a great sermon about relationships and the pleasure of giving, not receiving, we were given so many blessings.”
Nobody was injured in the blaze.
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