A Coventry family have been left homeless after a faulty plug socket exploded – destroying much of their house including a brand new B&Q kitchen.
Billie-Jo Osborne, 25, previously told CoventryLive how the fire left her with ‘flashbacks’. After a short stay in a cramped Travelodge she went to stay with her nan with her two children while her husband Wayne sleeps in the car.
She described how the family found themselves squeezed into a ‘cramped’ room with barely any space for their possessions.
READ MORE: New decision on extra student accommodation plan for historic Coventry pubREAD MORE: The meeting that will decide future of Coventry City Council after ‘disappointing’ local elections
She said: “It was nightmare. We were just crammed into one room. My daughter was scared by people coming and going from their rooms thinking somebody was breaking in.
“So now I’m staying with my nan but Wayne has to sleep in the car as there’s not enough room. We just desperately want to get back on our feet”
The family had already experienced the trauma of the fire. Billie-Jo said: “I was just hoovering up while Oscar was sat playing nearby and then I hear this humming sounds coming from the vacuum.
“I wondered what on earth was going on in case I’d hoovered up something I shouldn’t have and turned it off. When I turned it off again I heard a big ‘humph’ noise and all of a sudden smoke began rising up from behind one of the cabinets.
“I started to see flames and smoke and in a panic ran out into the back garden asking my neighbours to call 999. I then had to cover Oscar’s face with some clothes to shield him from the smoke to get out to the front of the house to safety.
“It was 3.05pm so I had to get my daughter from school. My neighbours watched the house while I went so I actually did the school run while my house was on fire.
READ MORE: Pictures of devastating Coventry house fire after mum and baby flee
“When I got back it was hectic, there were firemen everywhere. They checked me over and my son. We thought we were OK but my son had liquid in his ears from the smoke and needed an antibiotic spray. I also kept getting nose bleeds so the smoke must have got to me too – but the main thing is we are all alive and well.
Dramatic photographs reveal the extent of destruction inside the property where Billie-Jo resides with Oscar, her partner Wayne Slade, 53, and her five year old daughter Amelia.
West Midlands Fire Service investigators have since concluded that the fire was caused by a ‘melted’ plug socket situated behind the kitchen worktops.
“Scary situation with a young child’
Billie-Jo said: “My partner and I had just finished renovating our kitchen which had cost us around £5,000 from B&Q. We’d had brand new kitchen surfaces, cabinets, cupboards, an oven, a hob as well as a washing machine and dishwasher and installed it all ourselves.
“Everything has now been lost and destroyed – the washing machine is the only thing that survived. The fire service said the plug socket was faulty rather than the hoover and it was nothing to do with the new kitchen as we didn’t touch the electrics.
“It was just really bad timing as we had just finished installing the kitchen we had always wanted. I was just thinking of the worst, and seeing how quickly and badly it all spread was just horrendous.
“I am getting flashbacks from it now and I have nightmares. It was a very scary situation to be in, especially with a young child.”
The inferno didn’t just destroy the appliances – it also ravaged the brand-new cabinets, fridge and carpets throughout the property.
Billie-Jo set up a GoFundMe page to help purchase second-hand appliances, which has already attracted donations exceeding £1,100. Bridget Guilfoyle, director of asset management at Citizen Housing, which oversees the property, said: “We are aware of the fire at one of our properties in Binley, and our immediate priority has been the safety and wellbeing of the residents.
“We have arranged alternative accommodation and are providing ongoing support while the situation is resolved.
“At this stage, the cause of the fire is still under investigation, and we are working with relevant partners and our insurer to establish the full circumstances.
“It would not be appropriate to speculate until this process is complete, but we can confirm that electrical safety checks at the property were up to date at the time of the incident.
“We are currently assessing the extent of the damage to the property and will work with our insurers to progress the necessary repairs. We are also in contact with our customer regarding next steps and any support they may need.”
Donations can be made here.
Join the FREE Coventry WhatsApp community to get the latest news straight to your phone. Find out more here.
