GoFundMe campaign after fire destroys family's Clinkham Wood home

The Star reported after a blaze ripped through a house on Grizedale Avenue, Clinkham Wood on Tuesday night, August 23.

The home of Celine Hickman and her children Finnley, Gracie, Billy and Amelia, was ruined by the fire caused by an electrical fault involving a dryer.

Celine says the family has “lost everything” after the blaze but says things could have been “much worse” with the children, aged five, three, one, and a newborn baby, in the house upstairs at the time the blaze broke out.

One of the family’s pet dogs is also still missing after escaping the fire and they are appealing for anyone who has seen him.

Celine is appealing for help to find the missing dog, which had last been seen near Carr Mill Dam

“I’d been shopping and getting my child’s school uniform and came home,” said Celine, 25.

“I put all the shopping away and I could smell smoke, but I thought it was coming from outside.

“Then I could see smoke coming out the dryer and opened the patio doors and got the dogs out.

“The inside of the dryer must have been on fire and I tried my best to get the dryer out of the door. As I got it halfway out the patio door out the front, the air hit it and flames went into the back of the house.

“I couldn’t kick the dryer out so I just shut the window and the room smelled of smoke. I managed to find the door handle of the kitchen and get out, and run upstairs.

“By the time I got to the stairs, the flames were in the bedroom windows. I got all the children out, and then the animals, the dogs and cat.

“I was panicking and knocked on next door, flames were over the house.”

The house was destroyed by the blaze

Celine said neighbours came out and helped, and called the fire and rescue service.

“The fire brigade came but the house was already gone, it went like touch paper, the whole house was up,” she said.

“We’ve lost everything, there’s nothing left at all and we’re not allowed to go back.”

READ > Police called to 'concern for safety' of man on bridge over St Helens Linkway

Celine said the community has rallied to help the family in their time of need.

“Everybody came out to help during the fire, the whole street.

“There has been a GoFund me page set up , they’re doing a collection at the Toast 2 Roast café at the Bottom Shops.

“People have been dropping things off like babies’ milk and food, and some toys for the children. People are helping and I’d like to say thank you for all the help. I just hope we can get another house on the estate.

“My children are heartbroken, I got everybody out, the children, and that’s the main thing but it’s upsetting when your whole life has gone.

“It could have been much worse, if I’d have been in bed, we’d have been gone.”

• Visit here to donate.