TL:DR
- A family was rescued by a brave neighbor from a house fire in Leigh, Wigan, on December 18.
- The blaze began around 6 a.m. and rapidly engulfed their home, leaving them homeless.
- Neighbors reported hearing screams; quick actions helped save a father and his two daughters.
- A fundraiser established in support of the family has raised over £13,268 to help them rebuild.
- Firefighters extinguished the flames after eight hours, using multiple fire engines and equipment.
Hero neighbour saves family moments before fire engulfs home
A family was rescued from a ‘horrific’ blaze by their neighbour moments before their entire home was engulfed by flames a week before Christmas.
Two teenage girls and their dad were ‘screaming for help’ when their semi-detached home in Leigh, Wigan, caught fire at around 6am on Thursday, December 18.
Neighbours said that the blaze started at the back of the house and spread rapidly, with the family reportedly losing everything they owned.
Dramatic images show huge plumes of black smoke, red sparks and flames rising from the house.
After the fire was extinguished by firefighters – who were at the scene for eight hours – the windows were blown out and blackened.
Jody Shovelton told the Manchester Evening News how people along the street woke up from hearing ‘screams’ from the house.
She said: ‘It all happened so quick. Within a minute the neighbour across the road had run over with a ladder to save them. It was unbelievable.
‘He got one girl out first, the other jumped and was caught by a neighbour, and then he got the dad out.’
Their next door neighbours have set up a fundraiser that has raised £13,268 so far.
In the GoFundMe, the neighbours described the family who lost their home as ‘some of the kindest, most genuine people you could ever meet’.
It said: ‘This fundraiser is to support them as they begin the long process of rebuilding their lives – replacing everyday essentials, clothing, furniture, school items for the kids, and all the things we often take for granted.’
A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service told MEN ‘three fire engines from Hindley, Atherton and Leigh fire stations’ were called.
They used an aerial ladder platform from Bolton Central and the enhanced rescue unit from Leigh fire station to the blaze in Laxey Crescent, Leigh.
The spokesperson added: ‘Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus used three hose reels and the short extension ladder to extinguish the fire. Crews were in attendance for around eight hours.’