Families’ ‘turmoil’ as fire devastation sinks in

Families who lost their homes in a devastating fire have said they are “in turmoil” while they absorb the extent of the damage and adapt to new living arrangements.

Nineteen homes around Three Springs Road in Pershore, Worcestershire, were affected by the blaze on 13 August, as several fires swept through areas of the West Midlands on the same day.

Resident Mike Ruff said he, his partner and three children were living in his brother’s living room, while neighbour Roy Candlin and his wife and two children were using an Airbnb. Both families may have to wait up to 18 months before they can return home.

“You wake up every day and you actually can’t believe that it’s happened to you,” Ruff said.

The fire, which started at about 16:30 BST, led to 30 homes being evacuated and caused 200 to be without power for several hours.

The damaged properties have been fenced off and Ruff said it was “traumatising” to look at it.

“When you when you see it burning and then see it like that, how it’s left after, it’s shocking. Terrible,” he said.

He had returned home early that day because of the heat and first saw a fire at a property up the road, he said.

He thought his home was safe, but then he and his partner heard explosions and saw “debris flying around” and realised the family had to flee.

“We rushed to my van, to her car, drove to my brother’s house and and stayed there and 10 minutes later, my nephew sent me a photo of my roof on fire,” he said.

Candlin said his daughter called him to say she had heard explosions. He drove home to be greeted with “thick, black smoke”.

“Within minutes everything was raining hot embers, flames were coming out of the house,” he said.

“It’s just horrendous.. families are in turmoil, very upset over it.”

The neighbours said they were supporting one another and their families as they came to terms with what has happened.

“Day by day, you can’t plan anything, you don’t own anything. That’s the toughest bit at the moment,” Candlin said.

“You just get up in the morning and see how you feel.”

Two fundraising campaigns have since been set up for the families which have so far raised £17,000.

“It’s unbelievable. Absolutely fantastic. Family, friends, strangers at a time like this when you have literally nothing and you have to wait for insurances and stuff like that, it’s it’s unbelievable,” Ruff said.

Marion Duffy, chief operations officer at Platform Housing Group which provides the homes, said it was offering practical and financial support to people.

“We recognise how frightening and distressing this fire has been for our customers, particularly the two households who have been displaced from their homes. Their safety and wellbeing remain our absolute priority.”

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