Family home destroyed by fire

Amazingly the fire last Thursday was only discovered when a small boy, on holiday with his parents from Plymouth, became desperate for the toilet, wandered up the isolated drive and saw the flames.

No one was hurt in the blaze which firefighters from across the county battled for over 12 hours, but the fire, smoke and water from the fallen water tank destroyed Glenmore house on Old Roar Road.

Owner, Gillian Williams, who has lived in the house since she was five years old when her father bought it in 1947, said: "We have lost everything.

"The top flat is completely gone, the first floor is standing but pretty much gone, the ground floor and basement are completely flooded - the whole house is gone. And with this weather we can't even dry items on the lawn.

"The firemen were amazing though and they saved a lot of photos. Even the cats got out, although little Elsie is still at the vets after suffering smoke inhalation, but she will be fine."

The house had been covered in scaffolding as workmen redecorated the exterior and, according to Mrs Williams, a terrible downpour last Thursday at about 12pm stopped work for the day and all the workmen left.

While the family was also at work, the first call to the fire brigade came at 2.08pm from the couple from Plymouth, searching for a toilet.

The fire started on the first floor and worked its way up through the ceiling destroying the whole first and second floors, where Mrs Williams' son, his wife and her brother lived.

But more tragedy awaited - as the fire raged, the top floor was unable to support the water tank, which crashed to the ground, flooding and destroying the ground floor and basement.

Mrs Williams' daughter, Leila Williams, said: "We were lucky. It's hard to imagine it being worse, but it could have been.

"I got home at about 3.30pm and when I came up the drive there were about six or seven fire engines across the grass and drive, firemen everywhere and police and the flames were coming out the roof."

Leila said the firefighters from Hastings, Bexhill, Ore, Rye and Hove made sure the family were safe before trying to save as many precious items as they could.

The night of the fire the family had to stay in a mobile home and since then they had been living in tents.

But on Tuesday a static home arrived - their new home for the next year until the house can be restored, if at all.

Mrs Williams said: "There have been three generations in this house and it's all gone.

"If the fire didn't get it the water did. We haven't thought about the actual cost but it will probably take all the money it's insured for.

"I always felt it was an indestructible house because it stood through the war and everything. It's quite unbelievable. I just hope mum and dad can't see it wherever they are."

Leila said: "It's hard. We just take it day-by-day really. We are taking it in shifts so someone is always here to protect it from any kids or opportunists.

"We could not bear it if someone went inside and did more damage."

Bohemia firefighters were first on the scene and leading firefighter Andy Ling said: "When we arrived it was a severe fire with one third of the roof alight and part of the second floor.

"At one stage we had to evacuate the building because the second floor became unstable and the water tank fell through.

"We used six pumps from Hastings, Bexhill, Battle and Broad Oak and the turntable ladder from Hastings and we also had to use the water tower, so we tried to salvage as much as we could for the family before then.

"We left the house at about 3am, but the incident wasn't closed until 3pm last Friday."

Hastings police, who also attended the scene, said they are not treating the fire as suspicious.