Jeanette Charlton, 58, managed to save the family’s two dogs before fleeing the property with her 12-year-old granddaughter – but all of her belongings have been damaged in the horror blaze
A terminally ill woman has been left with “nothing” after a horror blaze tore through her home when a mini fridge set alight, forcing her to flee with her granddaughter.
The fire began to spread through Jeanette Charlton’s property late on Tuesday, Setember 9, when the fridge, in a bedroom, suddenly burst into flames. The gran, who is battling breast cancer that has now spread to her spine, managed to save the family’s two dogs before fleeing the property with 12-year-old Taylor. Shocking photos taken in the aftermath of the blaze show a completely gutted home, with all of its contents destroyed and rooms blackened by smoke.
Taylor, who had been asleep at the time, realised the house was alight when she got up to go to the toilet and saw the flames.
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Jeanette’s daughter and Taylor’s mum, Sophie Charlton, said: “I walked into the home after it happened and had to leave straight away it was heart-breaking. Taylor has nothing left now, not even her phone. All of the upstairs has been damaged and her bedroom has been left fully burnt through. The bathroom ceiling even fell in due to the heat damage.”
Jeanette, who previously recovered from breast cancer and a stroke before being told her cancer had returned and was terminal, has now been left with nothing. The gran had lived in the home for several years, but had no home insurance as she rented the property. She is now staying at her mother’s house while she and Taylor search for a new home – a task that is proving difficult, because of their two dogs.
Sophie, added: “Taylor is making a joke of it now but I think that’s because she doesn’t know how to deal with it. She has been left with nothing and for a helpless kid at that age it is just so unfair.” The girl’s uniform was also destroyed in the blaze, but her school, Polam Hall, has stepped in.
Sophie said: “Polam Hall School have been fantastic and have helped get her a full new uniform free of charge and offered for her to go in with no pressure until she settles back down. It is just so shocking you never expect anything like this to happen.
“My first thought when I found out was about Taylor as I didn’t want her to be hurt. I was relieved above anything when I heard from them. My mum is an absolute warrior and so strong. She doesn’t allow things to phase her and has a very it ‘is what it is’ attitude and just gets on.”
The family have launched a GoFundMe page to raise funds to replace Taylor’s damaged belongings and support Jeanette in rebuilding her life.
The Mirror have contacted County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service for comment.