'We had seconds to escape as fire wrecked our home'

A fundraiser has been set up to help a family who lost their home in a "terrifying" fire.

The Healy family said they had had "just seconds" to escape after a van exploded outside their house on New Mill Road in Brockholes, near Huddersfield, on 27 November.

"There was a massive bang and then flames all over our windows," said Daron Healy, who lives with his wife Eunice and their daughter Charlotte.

"Our home is wrecked and it's heartbreaking."

Mrs Healy said they had been "unbelievably lucky" to get out alive.

She said: "I think we had about 20 seconds between the first explosion, which sent flames up the walls, and the second blast when the fire became really bad all over the door and windows.

"It was terrifying. All the workmen in the street were panicking as well.

"At first I was in shock; I just stood there and stared at it, but Daron grabbed me and shouted that we had to move."

A GoFundMe page set up by friends and neighbours has raised more than £2,000 to help with temporary accommodation and basic essentials.

Mrs Healy said she was overwhelmed by the kindness of the community.

"We're so grateful for all the donations and the support, but it's not really about the money; we just want somewhere to live," she said.

"At the moment we're bed-hopping in hotels and living out of a suitcase. We don't know where we will be from one day to the next."

The couple said the money was helping them to pay for hotel food and buy clothes and other items.

Mr Healy said negotiations between their landlord and the insurance company were "dragging on" and he was worried they might not find an alternative rental property in the village.

"The hotels at the moment are in Huddersfield, but that's not home," said Mr Healy.

"We've been in Brockholes 16 years. We got married here, Charlotte went to school here, and to be forced out like this is devastating.

"There's a house available on the same street, but it's much more than we were paying in rent, and we're not sure how we would fund that at the moment."

West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service logged the incident as "accidental".

The sub-contractor, Lanes Group, which was carrying out utilities work on behalf of Yorkshire Water, said it would be conducting a full investigation into the cause of the fire and would "continue to work closely with all affected parties".

Yorkshire Water said: "This was a distressing incident for those involved, and we are very thankful that no-one was hurt.

"It is disruptive, particularly at this time of the year, and the customers impacted are being supported."

The couple said it was particularly hard to deal with losing their home so close to Christmas.

"We should be putting the tree up and wrapping our presents," said Mrs Healy.

"But we can't do any of that, and we don't even know where we will be on Christmas morning.

"Fortunately, we have an amazing community here looking out for us and we are so grateful for that."