Mum’s arson claim as family flee blaze

May 29 2008 by Dan Warburton, The Journal

THE mother of a family who smashed windows to escape a blaze which engulfed their home last night said she had been targeted by an arson attack.

Carole Griffiths, 36, was trapped in her house on Bede Terrace in Bowburn, County Durham, with her three children, her partner Ali, 44, and a teenage boy when the fire started.

Firefighters were called to the house at around 11pm on Tuesday, and spent nearly half an hour bringing the fire under control.

One of the occupants is believed to have jumped from an upstairs window as all occupants escaped the premises with the help of neighbours.

Last night Mrs Griffiths, who has lived in the terraced property for 18 years, claimed the fire that gutted her house was started deliberately.

She said: “Everything is gone. We think it’s vandalism but we can’t prove anything. The fire started behind the couch, and I hope it is going to be investigated.

“We’ve had threatening behaviour before. Things like having my electricity switched off in the middle of the night when my kids are in bed.

“I think it was started deliberately. There was only a quilt and a guitar behind the couch.

“We were all in bed and we’ve been very lucky. It’s unbelievable. There are some very sick people about.”

The house was sealed off by police yesterday as an investigation was carried out and officers in a marked car kept watch.

One person, believed to be the 16-year-old boyfriend of Mrs Griffiths’ daughter, sprained his ankle as he tried to rescue the family.

All the people in the house were taken to the University Hospital of North Durham for treatment.

Mrs Griffiths said: “We were all in bed when the fire alarm went off. I jumped out of bed and saw the fire which had started behind the couch.

“I tried to put the fire out but it wouldn’t go out so I ran upstairs to make sure the kids were OK.

“My daughter’s boyfriend had to jump in to try and get us all out. I was supposed to stay in hospital, but my daughter was getting out so I left too.

“I’m trying to sort out accommodation and a car because my keys were inside the house.”

Andy Dodd, who was in charge of the firefighting operation, said: “We were told the house was on fire and that persons were trapped.

“On route we received multiple calls confirming this. When we arrived the three adults and four children had got out of the house by smashing windows downstairs.

“One adult apparently jumped from an upstairs window. The fire was quite fierce and at one time involved every room in the house.”

Police last confirmed an investigation was under way.

A spokesman said: “We have yet to discover the cause of the fire and further inquiries are under way to discover if this incident was suspicious or not.”

Fire 'shows importance of smoke alarms'

THE fire at Bowburn showed the importance of having a smoke alarm, fire officials last night said.

The family were alerted to the blaze by the smoke alarm going off.

And yesterday, firefighters from the Durham Station were working in the area around the house offering safety advice and the fitting of free smoke alarms to all residents.

Paul Reay, director of community safety at County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service, said: "The importance of fitting smoke alarms in your homes was clearly highlighted by the fire.

"Without the smoke alarms the outcome would have been very different and I am certain they saved lives or prevented serious injury on this occasion."

Anyone who wants a home fire safety check or a smoke alarm fitted should call County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service on (0191) 332-4222 or visit www.ddfire.gov.uk