A WOMAN whose Llandudno home was the target of a house fire yesterday (March 25) has spoken of the extent of the damage caused and the “shock and the fright” she now feels.
Zara Groves was alone in her home on Ffordd Dewi yesterday when a “big whoosh” suddenly came through as she went to her open her inside front door.
MORE: Two people arrested after house fire in Llandudno
North Wales Police (NWP) and North Wales Fire and Rescue Service (NWFRS) were called to reports of a fire just at the property shortly after 10pm last night.
Services are still investigating the cause of the fire, while two have people have been arrested.
Zara, who has lived on Ffordd Dewi for 17 years, added how she had never had any previous problems while on this estate, and thanked the emergency services and her neighbours for their “amazing” help since the fire.
She said: “I was in my kitchen, getting stuff ready to go to a fitness convention today in Blackpool.
“As I opened my internal door, this big ‘whoosh’ came through. The force of the flame was so powerful that it took my internal door off its hinges.
“I called 999 and they’ve been absolutely amazing, and were here in minutes. The shock and the fright that I feel right now is unreal; I’ve been here all day with the police and fire brigade, but everybody on this estate has been amazing.
“The upstairs is all smoke damaged, and the kitchen, ceiling, porch, and door frames are all damaged.
“The windows on the front downstairs are cracked and broken, so there’s a lot of work that’s to be done.
“But I’m lucky, as well, because the flames didn’t go through the floorboards, so upstairs is still OK, other than that the whole house is black.
“I’ve lived here for 17 years, and have never had a row with a single person on this estate ever.
“The people on this estate have been amazing, people have come over and said: ‘We’ll paint for you’, ‘We’ll clean for you’; they’ve been a phenomenal help.”
A NWP spokesperson added: “We have conducted a joint examination with NWFRS and have conducted local enquiries.
“In order to reassure the residents in the area, there will be an increased police presence, but we would like to reassure the public that there is no perceived wider threat to the public.
“Two people have been arrested and our investigation is ongoing."
“If you witnessed any suspicious activity on Ffordd Dewi between 9pm – 11pm last night or have any other information that could help us with our enquiries, please come forward using our LiveChat facility or 101, quoting reference B041008.
“Alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here