Family ‘lost everything’ in house fire – including two dogs
NEIGHBOURS BATTLED IN VAIN TO PUT OUT FLAMES AND SAVE TRAPPED PETS
A BLAZE destroyed a family’s home and killed their two pet dogs.
Firefighters rushed to reports of a house fire in Calverton on Saturday after a neighbour called 999.
People in the area described seeing flames and “black smoke” billowing into the sky at around 2pm on Labray Road.
Witnesses said brave neighbours tried to put out the flames and rescue the dogs that were trapped inside – but were unsuccessful.
Three fire engines from Arnold, Stockhill and Carlton attended the scene. Crews used high-pressure hose reels and a thermal imaging camera to extinguish the blaze.
No neighbouring properties were affected, the emergency service confirmed. However, the dogs died at the scene.
The family – Kevin Williamson, his wife Nikki and their two children – lost everything in the fire.
Kevin’s sister, Melanie Williamson, spoke on behalf of the family.
She said: “My brother had been out on his motorbike, then he came home to pick his son to go for a Covid jab. His wife was out with their daughter.
“Kevin got a phone call about 2pm to say that his house was on fire. He came back, and their next-door neighbour tried to kick the doors in and get the dogs because they were inside.”
A 12-year-old chihuahua named Tia and seven-month-old Sprocker Spaniel pup Diego died from smoke inhalation.
Ms Williamson, 46, a community nurse for the NHS, said: “All their belongings were melted in the fire. Everything was destroyed.
“They have been renting the house for 20 years, and now everything is gone. They have lived in a hotel for the last few days.”
She added: “It is so important for people to know and check their fire alarms and double-check them.
“We should be grateful it actually happened in the day and that the smoke alarms worked. Even the fire brigade could not go in because it was so hot.”
Susan Bradley, 70, a long-term resident in the area, said: “It is really sad. I cannot imagine how I would feel if I have lost my dog Charlie like that.
“It is devastating for this area. It is so sad – everyone is heartbroken.”
A resident of Labray Road, who wished to remain anonymous, added: “I came back from shopping and I saw the fire from the back of the house and going through the front. It was a lot of smoke.”
She said: “It is obviously a tragedy for this community. I was just frightened. I saw the neighbours trying to get the dogs out of the house. It was so sad.
“We have never seen anything like this happening around here. It is the first fire we have had and I hope we will not see more.”
Other people living in the street said they had to shut their windows because of the smoke.
Karen Hope, who lives near the house that was on fire, said: “I have breathing problems anyway, so I had to quickly shut my windows straight away. It is a tragedy for our community.”
The 64-year-old, who is disabled, added: “I have never known of a fire to happen here.”
Another neighbour said: “I tried to help with extinguishing the fire until the brigade arrived. It was a lot of black smoke. It was hard to breathe.”
Rachel Dennis added: “We have watched their children grow. It is truly a tragedy. We are more than neighbours, we are friends. We watch their guinea pigs and rabbits for them.”
The 29-year-old added: “We have a fundraising page for them where the community can donate. We are trying to help with what we can because what they are going through now is just horrible.”
More than £300 has been raised towards the cause at the time of the publication. The fundraising page can be found at gofundme.com/f/raisemoney-for-the-family-after-a-house-fire.
A spokesperson for Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue service confirmed the fire was accidental.
Station manager Richard Ellis said “This was an upsetting incident, and our thoughts are with those affected. It is worth saying that the residents had closed the internal doors, so the fire was contained to the living room. The property’s smoke alarm also gave an early warning to neighbours, who rang 999.
“Without both, this fire would have been even more severe.”
Fire engines left the scene shortly after 4pm. Crews were in the community over the following days to give fire safety advice.