Joanne Parker and her teenage daughter were sleeping in the home when they heard an explosion from their living room
16:56, 06 May 2026Updated 17:05, 06 May 2026
The end-of-terrace home was reportedly targeted at the rear of the property (Image: WalesOnline reporter)
A woman has described the terrifying moment she fled her burning home in the early hours of the morning after it was targeted in an alleged arson attack. Joanne Parker, who lives at the property in Glynneath with her teenage daughter, said they are “lucky to be alive”.
The incident occurred at around 3am on Friday, May 1, when residents on the small Maes yr Eglwys housing estate in Neath Port Talbot were woken by the sound of breaking glass. Several neighbours went to investigate and discovered the downstairs of Joanne’s home was on fire.
Inside, Joanne said the blaze had escalated in seconds. “It was about three in the morning. We were in bed,” she said. “My daughter was in the room above the living room, right nextdoor to me, and we heard a smash and an explosion.
“My daughter said her room lit up orange. We both got up. We’ve got a German shepherd and a cat and, initially – because I was half asleep – I just thought the cat had knocked something over.
“But as we left our rooms, it was just black smoke everywhere. In the living room, the curtains were ablaze.” Stay informed on everything Neath Port Talbot by signing up to our newsletter here
Joanne said they managed to escape with their pets and call the fire service, while neighbours rushed to help tackle the flames before emergency crews arrived.
“All the neighbours came out. There was a man nextdoor and another a couple of houses down who tried to put the fire out with water. They ran round the back because all the houses could have gone up, and there are young children living nearby,” she said.
Emergency services arrived at around 3.18am; with one neighbour, who wished to remain anonymous, claiming that officials told them that by closing the doors and windows they had effectively saved the building and prevented the fire from spreading to neighbouring homes.
Firefighters used breathing apparatus, hose reel jets and thermal imaging cameras to bring the blaze under control, while also isolating the home’s gas and electricity supply and ventilating the property. Crews remained at the scene until 4.37am.
Despite the quick action of residents and the fire service, the blaze caused severe damage to the property, destroying most of the family’s belongings. “Everything’s gone… we are starting from scratch,” Joanne shared. “The living room is completely destroyed. They’re going to have to knock walls down to get to electrics because of the damage. Honestly, the smoke damage is so bad – everything is just black.”
Although the fire was contained to the ground floor, smoke spread throughout the entire house: its stench clinging onto the furniture and the walls completely blackened.
Residents in the estate were left stunned by the incident(Image: WalesOnline reporter)
“Upstairs everything is smoke damaged. You walk in and you’re just covered in black. Everything is as we left it when we tried to escape that night,” she added.
Joanne has since been staying in temporary accommodation while trying to recover what she can from the home, describing the emotional toll the incident has taken.
“The dog is with me but my mum has the cat. We were in a hotel in Merthyr at first but they wouldn’t take the animals. I said I couldn’t be without my dog – she’s a rescue German shepherd and was really stressed,” she said.
Joanne said that the experience has also significantly affected her mental health. “I’ve just recovered from six sessions of cognitive behavioural therapy for PTSD and this has completely knocked me back. I’m a wreck,” she said.
“My daughter is autistic – she is not good… she needs a home to live in. We can’t stay in a hotel. It’s been really difficult. This was random. We’re traumatised by the whole thing.”
Despite their emotional turmoil, the pair have returned to the property in recent days so they could try to salvage sentimental belongings, though much has been destroyed.
“My mother bought me a silver Bible ornament. I took it and she tried to revive it but she had it burnt at the back. We have lost so much. It has been so traumatic and we have just been left thinking: ‘Why?'”
Following the incident neighbours have set up a GoFundMe page in an effort to raise money for Joanne and her daughter. So far £596 has been raised. The fundraiser can be found here.
Police confirmed that an investigation is now ongoing as officers work to identify a suspect. The full statement from South Wales Police reads: “Officers were called to a report of arson at an address on Maes yr Eglwys, Glynneath, Neath Port Talbot at around 3:25am on Friday, May 1.
“The fire service attended and extinguished the fire. No injuries were reported. An investigation into this incident is currently ongoing to identify a suspect. If you have any information about this incident please get in touch via 101, quoting 2600134506.”
A spokesperson from Mid and West Wales Fire Service added: “At 3.18am on Friday, May 1, the Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service crews from Glynneath and Seven Sisters fire stations were called to an incident at Maes yr Eglwys in Glynneath.
“Supported by crews from South Wales Fire and Rescue Service, the crews responded to a fire at an end-of-terrace domestic property. The fire was contained to the ground floor living room of a domestic property.
“Crews utilised four breathing apparatus sets, two hose reel jets, two thermal imaging cameras and one safety jet to extinguish the fire.
“Crews were involved in isolating the property’s gas and electricity supply and ventilating the property after the fire had been extinguished. Crews left the scene at 4.37am.”
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