Wennington wildfire renders many homeless

On the hottest day in UK history, a distraught mother-of-three whose house was burned in a raging wildfire described how she and her family have “lost everything.”

Before the fire tore through their home in Wennington, east London, Claire Taylor, 40, said all she and her family had time to save were her grandfather’s ashes, a few pictures, and a few small amounts of clothing.

An ominous It’s just dreadful,’ Mrs. Taylor told Sky News. It’s all of your regular stuff. All of it is your documentation. Your passports are all included. In a split second, your life is gone. And everyone is experiencing that.

We recently lost my grandmother and grandfather. They had left us several items, which we had. It’s disastrous.

After the deadly fire, which Mrs. Taylor claimed appeared “apocalyptic” as it roared toward them, she said residents were still in shock but “trying to muddle through.” Many of them are residing in motels or other types of temporary housing.

Her remarks follow the publication of a video yesterday that depicts the fire spreading from the surrounding farmland toward the settlement. Warm winds during Tuesday’s heatwave, which reached a record-breaking 40.3C, propelled the flames towards the settlement.

As many as 19 homes in Wennington were destroyed by the fire despite the best efforts of 100 firefighters; some families later revealed how they “lost everything” in the disaster.

Residents also described how the spreading flame tore through the community as they sought refuge in St. Mary and St. Peter’s Church.

The Wennington fire was the worst of several significant accidents that occurred on Tuesday. As many as 63 buildings were damaged throughout the UK, including 14 in the adjacent town of Dagenham.

In Barnsley, South Yorkshire, six homes were completely destroyed by a wildfire outside of London. In addition, eight homes in Maltby, Rotherham, three in the neighborhood of Kiveton Park, and three in Clayton, West Yorkshire, were demolished.

After Tuesday’s destruction, locals were finally permitted to return to their houses last night after passing through a police barrier.

Some others were observed carrying cages that held their animals. They were among the few belongings that some villagers were able to save before the fire engulfed the village.

Others could be seen walking through the cordon and towards the village, where they would now be able to see the destruction with their own eyes for the first time since Tuesday’s fire, while clutching one another inconsolably.

Yesterday, Home Secretary Priti Patel went to the Wennington Fire Station and personally seen the destruction caused to the homes of the locals.

In a tweet, Ms. Patel said: “It was an honor to visit Wennington Fire Station this morning, where I met our courageous firemen who have fought the catastrophic fires in London nonstop this week.

To ensuring our response to fires is as successful as it can be, “I will continue to work with London Fire Brigade Commissioner Andy Roe and Assistant Commissioner Dominic Ellis.”

As the spreading inferno tore through the community, it was shown how soot-covered residents sought safety in St. Mary and St. Peter’s Church.

The medieval parish church, which is grade II listed, escaped the fire unharmed. Pictures show the stone building unaltered, in stark contrast to the grassy area around it that has turned black.

Aggressive firefighting strategies are believed to have spared damage to the church, and the well-maintained burial grass helped firemen in their efforts to save the old structure by burning slowly.

New video, meantime, depicts the fire coming from the countryside and moving toward the village. Warm winds during Tuesday’s heatwave, which reached a record-breaking 40.3C, propelled the flames towards the settlement.

Tim Stock, 66, who works as the local gravedigger and church warden, and his family, along with two dogs and a tortoise, were able to escape the fire.

He claimed he was successful in getting everyone inside the church, only for it to quickly fill with smoke. As a result of the fire on Tuesday, he added that the community appeared to be in “The Blitz.”

He described how the villagers crowded into the church during the fire, saying: “We opened up the church since I had the keys, we got everyone in, they were covered in soot, they were drinking water, but then that started filling up with smoke so we had to get them out again.”

To be honest, I’m shocked it didn’t burn down as well. When the fire first began to spread across the cornfield, I became trapped behind the cordon and was unable to escape since the field was on fire.

I lost everything, Mr. Stock, whose home was destroyed in the fire, said. There was no turning back because we had the house, the garden, and two beehives.

“My kid took some items and went over to his friend’s house, but about ten minutes later, that burned down two or three hundred yards away, leaving him with nothing as well.

I have 50 years of experience digging graves. My truck, which belongs to the council, has blown up. I lacked the time to say it.

Since their home was completely damaged by fire, Mr. Stock and his family have been residing in a motel. The council attempted to house us, but we had two dogs and my tortoise Malty, so that wasn’t possible.

Later, he admitted to BBC Radio 5 Live, “It’s incredibly painful.” We’ve lived there for roughly 60 years; I mean, I’ve been there for 41 years, but my granddad was there before me.

And it’s really sad to see it all come apart. However, as I previously stated, we’ll clear the site, set up a sort of mobile house there, and then we’ll start over.

Mr. Stock continued, describing the village’s ruins as “like a warzone.” It looked like a scene from the Blitz down the actual main road, where all the windows had blown out and all the roofs had collapsed.

It comes as families have described how the terrible flames that tore across areas of England on the hottest day in UK history had turned their lives upside down.

On Tuesday, up to 41 properties were demolished throughout London, with Wennington accounting for close to half of those.

According to local authorities, the grass fire destroyed 19 structures, including five cars, two detached homes, two semi-detached homes, two rows of terraced homes, two outbuildings, six one-story garages, and 12 stables.

Six homes and 25 vehicles were left scorched after a fire in Barnsley that is thought to have originated in a garden shed, while another 14 residences and 25 vehicles were destroyed in a blaze in Dagenham.

Additionally, footage captured by a drone depicts firemen fending off a wildfire as it encroached on buildings in Brancaster Staithe, a village in Norfolk close to Watton. It is estimated that at least five homes were completely destroyed.

Families caught up in the destruction have since talked of the instant they realized the blaze was headed in their direction.

Others tried to dig trenches in a last-ditch effort to halt the advancing wall of flames, while some described how they managed to save their pets.

And one family expressed to MailOnline their concern that a wildfire burn has rendered their dream £700,000 property uninhabitable.

Twenty families have been made homeless by the Wennington fire, including Teru Akinfe and his wife Funke, both 54 years old.

The couple was informed by the fire department that their house is not one of the 19 homes, but they were also given the stern warning to “expect the worst” since the fire may have caused structural damage to their semi-detached house, serious smoke damage, and the loss of their garden shed.

We are among the fortunate because our home hasn’t been fully damaged, but we’re preparing for the worst, Mr. Akinfe told MailOnline. Although the fire department has warned us that it’s not in good shape, we don’t know what kind of state it is in.

We are unsure of the time frame for returning to reside there. Our lives have been entirely upended by this fire.

We worked so hard to get that house, which contains everything we own. We are doing our best to cope, but there is nothing we can do about it.

Funke, a Post Office employee, disclosed that on Tuesday afternoon, she tried to put out the fire alongside her neighbors while working from home.

She remarked, “I started smelling smoke. It was really warm, and all the windows in the house were open.” When I hurried outside, I noticed flames and terrified neighbors. We all came together to try to put it out after I pulled out my hose pipe.

However, there was nothing we could do. The fire was growing more powerful despite our best attempts.

The neighbor’s house, which has been entirely destroyed, backs up to the field where the fire is thought to have begun.

Then it quickly extended toward the ancient village mentioned in the Domesday Book.

The four homes to our left have all been completely destroyed, Funke continued. We know one other well and live in a really friendly, close-knit neighborhood. For my friends and neighbors who have lost everything, my heart is broken. The fortunate ones are us.

Officials will take the couple and a few of the other inhabitants to the village on Wednesday night so they can witness for themselves how their homes have been affected by the terrible fire.

Manager for a parcel delivery firm Mr. Akinfe stated: “We truly don’t know what to expect.” It’s ridiculous; we are in a nightmare.

16 years ago, the couple bought their house, which is situated on Wennington’s main green.

It’s a gorgeous, spacious home and our palace, Ms. Akinfe sobbed. We have a large lawn, three living spaces, and four bedrooms.

I just want to move back into this house because we have so many beautiful memories here, but I’m not sure when that will be possible.

Alfie Stock, Tim Stock’s son, told yesterday how he used a hosepipe to fight to rescue his boyhood home.

“I was just about to step outside when my brother came in and told me he could smell some smoke,” he continued.

“It was nothing, just a mound of grass.” The embers from that small mound of grass spread to all the trees by the time we managed to get the hosepipe through since the wind had picked up.

Their home caught fire in less than five minutes. We were doing our best to stop it from spreading to our house by hosing down their lean-to roof. From there, it developed.

‘I’m really afraid about our stuff, my photos, my nan and grandad’s ashes, if they are gone, you can’t get them back,’ said William Reitz, 26, who has lived in Kent View on Wennington Road for nine years.

“I escaped just in time as the flames approached.” It was around 20 feet away, the closest fire I’ve ever seen near my house.

I immediately fled the house after seeing the flames cross the fence. I was terrified.

I gathered everything, grabbed my mother and father, and we all fled the house. I have to wait and see what has happened because I don’t know what is going on. I’m miserable and stressed out.

I’ve never seen anything like it before in my life, another resident, Ray Smith, 55, told the Sun.

I left there after getting into my car. Everyone was terrified. It’s terribly sad. I believe I am completely lost.

The 69-year-old Carole Stopp, who has spent more than 35 years living in Wennington Green, also saved her 60-year-old tortoise Cleo from the fire.

She stated to the Telegraph: “At around 1 pm, thick black smoke began to rise.

I peered out the window and exclaimed, “Oh my gosh.” Tim, a neighbor of ours, had a burning front garden. We called to check on him.

Tim was used a hose to put out the fire on his own.

We believe the loud explosions that followed were caused by windows imploding due to the heat. We simply took the turtle and fled.

While some families were successful in rescuing their pets, those who weren’t are concerned for their security.

Lorry driver Gary Ruel, 63, who was forced to leave his home, told the newspaper: “I’m genuinely frightened about my house.” I may have lost three cats since I only had time to get the dog out.

“It’s awful.” Just two months ago, I finished paying off my mortgage. It’s terribly sad.

“My wife has COPD [chronic obstructive pulmonary disease], and the fireman basically told her to get out, get out!””

William, the 33-year-old son of the couple and a resident of Halstead, Essex, said: “My mom emailed me a picture of the fire outside the home from the toilet.” When it approached the house, she was still inside.

It began in the field, moved through the garden, and finally reached the decking and conservatory. We believe the neighbor’s home has also vanished. It’s terrible; I witnessed the house burn on television.

Kia Meadows, a neighbor, described how things caught fire so quickly.

She said, “I was sunbathing in my garden when a massive black cloud came across. I looked up and that side of Wennington was on fire and within an hour it had spread to our house.” She made the statement to BBC Radio 4 Today.

“A lot of this land is built on a lot of trash, and as soon as the heat comes, this area immediately catches fire, but I never thought it would get that close,” the speaker said.

Friends of those affected yesterday described how one woman escaped her burning Wennington home with just her photo album, a cat, and her deceased grandfather’s ashes.

Following the devastating fire, which she said may have been started in the compost bin next door, two of her animals are still missing.

As a friend—who would not provide his name—came back to the village to seek for her pets, the tale began to take shape. He claimed to be caring for two persons who had recently lost their homes.

I just came down to look for the animals of two friends who are visiting me in Upminster, the man stated.

I’ve heard that the scrapyard takes care of animals, but I haven’t seen any cats, and the police won’t let anyone in.

She seems to believe the fire, which was next to their home, originated from a compost bin. She said it enveloped the treeline.

She attempted to remove her cats, but one jumped out of her grasp while the other was placed in a box and then fled. It scratched her hand it was that afraid.

She was taken to the Windmill Pub, but fortunately for me, I live nearby. I called them when I learned and they came to stay with me in Upminster.

“They care more about the cats than the rest of stuff,” they said. Although they are in shock, some memories are starting to return.

She picked up his ashes and her photo albums as she left her father’s funeral last year.

Otherwise, everything is lost. They have two vehicles—a van on The Green and a Porsche outside someone’s home—and they aren’t even letting them enter to get them. If they do obtain them, at least they are portable.

During the Tuesday rush to evacuate residents of Wennington, one woman claimed that her uncle was trapped and attempting to put out the flames by “digging a trench” around his home. He was later saved by police.

Wennington is included in the Domesday Book because of its Norman church, and yesterday night, amidst the smoldering remains of burned-out houses, it felt like an appropriate description.

Susan Ospreay, a local councilwoman, declared that the fire “totally destroyed” Wennington Village.

The Havering Council’s Ray Morgan told MailOnline that the village was remained closed off while the Fire Brigade was conducting an assessment.

“Unfortunately, we will have to tear down a few houses. Some of these structures are extremely old structures that can no longer be repaired.

“All the residents have been evacuated,” he continued, “and are either staying with family or in temporary housing supplied by the Council.” To make sure they are taken care of, we are all working incredibly hard.

Around 1 pm, a compost pile in a dry grassland area next to the Wennington fire station appeared to have started the fire, prompting firemen to rush to the scene.

Residents in distress could be seen lugging water buckets to the Lennards Arms pub, where the neighborhood had gathered. Some people were hastily taking gas canisters out of the bar.

Some people were hastily taking gas canisters out of the bar. Police ordered a building evacuation as the fire got closer.

Landlord Walter Martin, 60, said: ‘I’ve never seen anything like it. It’s terrible. People are in shock. The cops came to our house and instructed us to gather what we could, according to retired woman Lynn Sabberton.

The 75-year-old Brian Brazier remarked, “The fire has destroyed my stables.” We wouldn’t have had all this trouble if someone had been there to put out the small fire that had started around the backs of the houses.

As they were being evacuated, resident Janet Hickey, 70, who has terminal pancreatic cancer, said she was compelled to leave all her cancer medications behind. I have all of my cancer medications in the fridge, she declared.

Vicar Rev. Elise Peterson urged people to pray for the neighborhood as structures surrounding the Grade II-listed medieval St. Mary and St. Peter’s Church caught fire.

When the PA news agency asked a firefighter on the site about the conditions, he or she said, “total hell,” while individuals who had been touched by the fire stated it had been spreading quickly.

According to Wennington homeowner Lynn Sabberton, who claimed she and her lung-difficult partner were evacuated from their home, “We believed it was one of the fields that caught alight over the back of us.”

The green has caught fire, a neighbor called and said, “Oh no, it’s on the green,” and I answered. I noticed the black smoke, and as it quickly expanded, additional police and helicopters landed in our neighborhood.

I believe the wind caused the fire to move our way toward the settlement because it spread so quickly.

Lizzie Pittman, an employee at a stable near the roundabout in Aveley, Essex, said she was caring for the five horses that had been rescued from their burned-out stables in Wennington.

Ms Pittman said: ‘This is your biggest fear. It’s growing closer and closer, as you can see. Houses are being lost by people, although they are made of bricks and mortar. Animals are being lost by people.

Meanwhile, a fire in Barnsley that started in a backyard and spread to neighbouring homes destroyed six homes.

In a last-ditch effort to prevent the fire from spreading to further residences, residents told how they battled the flames with hosepipes for 45 minutes prior to the arrival of fire crews.

Jason Saville, who only returned from Tenerife on Monday, said he and his neighbours used a hose and buckets of water to beat back the flames despite pleas from authorities to evacuate the area.

Mr Saville said the first house was engulfed in flames within 20 minutes.

The police kept telling him to leave, but he insisted that he wouldn’t do so until he was certain that his property was secure.

And he added: ‘A lot of the community came together and tried to help but we couldn’t save those houses there because it was too much.’

Mr Saville said: ‘If the wind has been blowing the other way we would have had it.’

He stated those that lost their house were all safe but one family was still seeking for their cat.

Carl Fox lives only a few feet from where the fire started and he explained how his house only escaped getting caught in the flames by a few minutes.

Mr Fox said: ‘I got a call on my video doorbell to say my fence was on fire, so I came back from work to find some boys in the garden fighting the fire with a hose pipe.

‘It started close to the fence with a shed and it all just went up.

“This is what we see now,” the wind said, blowing it up upon the houses.

The whole house would have been on fire if the guys hadn’t lifted that fence panel out to use the hose pipes in the garden, which probably gave us another five or ten minutes.

‘It would have just gone on going – our house would have taken up and next door too.’

Mr Fox claimed his house suffered some minor smoke damage and he lost everything from his garden.

Andrea Parmenter, 50, and Craig Bembrick, 47, were among those impacted by the incident.

Craig said: ‘I was asleep on the sofa and I was woken by one of my neighbours, Rebecca Gough, crying.

‘I put my head out and could see a neighbour was trying to wash the fire down. At first I thought someone must be locked inside.’

Andrea added: ‘I was at work when it happened and the phone reception there is weak. I didn’t realize what was going on until I stepped outside for a smoke and discovered that my phone had received numerous texts and missed calls.

We stayed the night at my mother’s house in Dodworth, and we returned this morning to assess the damage and see whether anything could be saved.

At least we were able to locate Ozzie, our ginger cat of 11 years. He has been meowing, and while we fed him, we haven’t yet been able to pick him up.

And Craig joked about the goodwill of Barnsley locals who have contributed hundreds of pounds for the families impacted

He said: ‘Don’t give me flowers please bring me socks – I had to hurry out of the home without any on.’

Doncaster and Rotherham were also impacted by wildfires on Tuesday that spread in the high heat on what was the hottest day the UK has ever seen.

South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service declared a major incident due to the extent of the fires which destroyed homes and tore apart people’s livelihoods.

Many homes were entirely destroyed with naught but a frame left behind. Thankfully, there have not yet been any reports of casualties.