Worthing Home Destroyed After Birthday Candle Fire
A Worthing family has lost their home after a pumpkin-spiced candle left burning during a cat's birthday party ignited coats and spread rapidly through the house.
Fire spreads rapidly from forgotten candle
A Worthing family has been left "traumatised" after their home was destroyed in a fire that started when a pumpkin-spiced candle was forgotten whilst burning. Debbie Fron, 62, was not at the home when the blaze occurred on 17 September. She had been staying at a colleague's house following a staff event.
Her 29-year-old daughter Jasmine Spalding and Jasmine's girlfriend Ella Mason, 27, were holding a birthday party for their cat Oreo when they went to the bathroom to prepare for bed. They left the Morrisons pumpkin-spiced candle burning in the bedroom with the door open.
Coats hanging on the door caught fire above the flames. When the women returned from the bathroom and tried to extinguish the fire with wet towels, it had already become too dangerous. They fled as the blaze continued to spread.
West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service was called at 11.07pm. Debbie said the fire was out by 11.20pm.
"The fire got out of control very quickly"
Debbie said she received a devastating call from her daughter informing her she had no home to return to. "The fire got out of control very quickly," she said. "People forget how rapid fire can move."
Her daughter and Ella are experiencing "nightmares and flashbacks" following the incident. Debbie said the window exploded outwards during the fire. Part of the ceiling has collapsed into the bathroom.
The family, which also includes their dog Britney and another cat named Bruce, escaped without injury. All the animals survived.
Temporary home whilst repairs continue
The family are currently living in Littlehampton whilst work continues on their mortgaged Worthing home. Debbie does not expect repairs to be completed soon, noting "there is so much work to do".
Debbie has set up a GoFundMe to buy household essentials, including a new bed. She praised her daughter and Ella for "doing all the right things" during the emergency and said she was proud of their honesty about the incident.
"Stuff can be replaced but people can't," Debbie said.
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