A halogen heater left too close to curtains caused a house fire near Boroughbridge last night.
A person at the house required oxygen and was taken to hospital.
Firefighters from Knaresborough and Harrogate were called to the property in Aldborough at 10.40pm last night.
North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service’s incident report said:
“The fire was caused by a halogen heater that had accidentally been turned on whilst being too close to the curtains.
“On the arrival of fire crews, the occupant had extinguished the fire using a fire extinguisher and water from a kettle.”
The report said firefighters removed the curtains, dampened down and cleared the smoke.
It added:
“Crews administered oxygen therapy to one occupant suffering from smoke inhalation. The occupant was transported to hospital via road ambulance for a precautionary check up.”
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Harrogate house fire family launches crowdfunding appeal
A Harrogate family whose home was devastated by fire has launched a crowdfunding appeal.
Mikey Donald said his parents’ home insurance had lapsed a month before Friday’s fire, which ripped through the garage and house on Avenue Close in Starbeck.
You can read about the incident here.
In his appeal post, Mr Donald posted photos showing the impact of the fire and said he was “reaching out for support during one of the toughest times my family has faced”.
The car and garage were ruined by fire.
The bedroom
He said his dad Mike Donald, 58, was disposing of paperwork when fire broke out:
“A sudden gust of wind sparked a fire that engulfed our garage and home. Miraculously, no one was harmed, but the flames ravaged everything we held dear, leaving behind only memories amidst the ashes.
“To add to the hardship, we learned that our insurance had lapsed just a month before the incident, leaving us vulnerable and without coverage. Now, we’re faced with the daunting task of rebuilding our home from scratch, a journey filled with uncertainty and challenges.”
Mr Donald said his father’s partner Rhona Andrew, 57, was an NHS nurse who had “devoted her life to caring for others” and was awaiting kidney and pancreas transplants due to declining health.
He added his father, a joiner, was “always lending a helping hand in our Starbeck community”.
Mr Donald said:
“Your kindness and support mean everything to us during this dark chapter. Every contribution, no matter the size, will directly aid my dad in rebuilding our family’s home and restoring hope in our hearts. Thank you, from the depths of our souls, for considering to stand by us in our time of need.”
More than 120 people had donated a total of around £2,500 by last night. You can donate here
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Firefighters battle major house fire in Starbeck
Fire has caused widespread damage to a house and garage in Starbeck this morning.
The blaze is believed to have started in the garage of the property on Avenue Close, off High Street.
Crews from Harrogate, Knaresborough, Wetherby and Moortown, along with the aerial ladder platform from Harrogate, battled the fire.
Harrogate watch manager Nev Scott said crews were mobilised at 9.52am to what he described as a “significant fire”.
Mr Scott said:
“The fire has significantly affected one two-storey property, and there is smoke damage to a neighbouring property.
“The work of the crews has prevented the fire spreading to an adjacent property. Crews will continue to work through the day to dampen the fire and mitigate any further damage.”
He added the occupants had got out of the property by the time firefighters arrived at the scene, and no-one injured. An investigation into the cause us ongoing.
The burnt wreckage of the garage.
A statement by North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service said:
“Fire crews were called at around 9:50 this morning to reports of a house fire on Avenue Close in Harrogate.
Crews have been working to fight the fire and stop it spreading to a second property.”
Firefighters at the scene of a house fire in Starbeck.
Paramedics and police were also at the scene.
North Yorkshire Police said in a statement:
“Police are assisting North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service at the scene of a fire at a residential property on Avenue Close in Harrogate.
“The incident was reported at 10.17am.”
Smoke billows from the roof of the fire-damaged roof.
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‘I’ve never seen smoke like it’ — neighbours react to Harrogate house fire
Neighbours have spoken of their shock at the scale of a fire today that ravaged a home in Harrogate and forced a nearby nursery to evacuate.
Firefighters from Harrogate, Knaresborough, Wetherby and Moortown rushed to Avenue Close, off Starbeck High Street, at 9.52am, as reported by the Stray Ferret.
The occupants escaped unhurt but the fire, which is believed to have started in a garage, caused major damage to the two-storey property. However, the fire crews prevented the flames from spreading to an adjoining property.
Firefighters at the scene.
About 60 children from the nursery Nature’s Little Learners, which is also on Avenue Close, were evacuated.
Owner Sam Williams said:
“We followed our fire procedure as soon as we noticed the smoke. The smoke then set off our fire alarm.”
She said everyone had to stay outside for five to 10 minutes until it was deemed safe to return. The nursery had to keep its doors and windows closed to escape the impact of thick smoke.
Lorraine Barnett, who lives in the area, said her three-year-old grandson alerted her to the incident. Ms Barnett added:
“I’ve never seen such big flames. The smoke was up to the roof. Then we heard this loud banging and crashing. Black smoke was coming out for ages.”
Another woman, whose home on High Street is close to the affected property and asked not to be named, said:
“I was in the kitchen and saw the garage was on fire. There was then thick black smoke and flames — it must have happened so quickly. I’ve never seen smoke like it. I called the fire brigade but it had already been alerted by the methodist church.”
Here are two videos taken at the scene, showing the scale of the fire.
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