DEVASTATED Chester householders whose homes were ravaged by fire have spoken of their horrific ordeal.
Firefighters were called to a blaze at a semi-detached home on Mannings Lane South, Hoole.
Two crews and an aerial platform turned out from Chester Fire Station after receiving a call from one of the householders who was sitting in his bedroom when he suddenly noticed the ceiling was on fire.
Roofs on two houses were destroyed after a workmen using a blow torch accidentally set fire to bitumen on a flat roof at one of the properties, according to Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service.
The blaze also took hold in three bedrooms in one of the houses and there was smoke damage to the upstairs of the other home.
Shirley Fryer, whose brother and nephew live at the address, told the Leader: “My nephew was sitting in his room watching TV and then all of a sudden the roof was in flames.
“He got out as quickly as he could and called for the fire service. It was lucky that he wasn’t in the bedroom below where the fire started - it is a miracle that no one was hurt.”
The adjoining homeowner was at work on Thursday afternoon when he received the devastating news.
“I was at work and I was having a bad day anyway, plus the fact that I have just lost my mother, and my mate phoned me and told me that my house was on fire,” said the resident, who did not wish to be named.
“I came home and watched my house go up in smoke. I was just so fed up.”
Fire crews worked for two hours to dampen the flames, which ripped through the upstairs bedrooms of the joint properties.
Mrs Fryer arrived at the scene shortly after the fire was extinguished.
She said: “It was just shock and upset and we shed a few tears.
“Some people would think this is the biggest disaster in their lives. We are just profoundly grateful no-one was hurt.
“It’s just bricks and mortar at the end of the day. It could have been a lot worse.”
Mrs Fryer, who lives in Mold, said the fire destroyed piles of photographs and sentimental objects that had been stored in the attic.
Following the rescue effort carpets, furniture and precious belongings were also damaged or destroyed.
Despite their horrific ordeal, both householders paid tribute to firefighters from Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service.
Mrs Fryer said: “The fire service where brilliant. They were efficient, professional, they kept us informed and they calmed things down even despite the chaos. I can’t speak highly enough of them.”
The other resident called them “superb”.
No-one was injured and the cause of the fire is currently being investigated by Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service.