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Mum says family has 'lost everything' after fire

Kirsteen O'Sullivan,in Wimborneand
Simon Ormiston,South of England
The aftermath of a house fire that started when the tenant found a desktop computer alight

A mum-of-four has described how her family "lost everything" after a fire forced them to flee their home in the early hours of the morning.

Investigators believe the fire at her rented house in Wimborne, Dorset, on 28 July started near a desktop computer in her teenage son's bedroom.

Deborah Logan-Collingburn, who was woken at about 03:00 GMT, said what happened still did not "feel real".

Now in two-bedroom temporary accommodation, she said she wanted to raise awareness of the dangers of technology in the home.

Deborah Logan-Collingburn is now living with her family in temporary accommodation

"My son came out of his room and he just crouched down, crying. And I've asked him 'what's going on?' I thought he'd had a night terror," Logan-Collingburn said.

"He said 'don't go in there Mum, my room's on fire'.

"So I sort of went past him, just gently opened his door - the computer on his desk was on fire."

Ms Logan-Collingburn said her children often complained their games consoles and computers would get hot.

"I wouldn't want anyone to go through this," she said.

"I've got a soft toy rabbit that I had and I always thought I'd be buried with her.

"[I hoped] maybe she'll be alright. But she's not, she's gone.

"I've lost everything from my entire life."

News imageA burnt out detached brick house with the roof beams exposed and all the tiles gone. Most of the windows have blown out and there is debris on the lawn in front. The attached garage has a red door which is half open and more debris is on the driveway.
Ms Logan-Collingburn said "everything" was destroyed in the fire

How to reduce the risk of computer fires

Dorset and Wiltshire Fire Service has issued the following advice to those working from home or using computers regularly:

  • Do not leave equipment plugged in to charge overnight
  • Fully shut down computers when people have finished using them
  • Do not leave laptops on soft furnishings
  • Close doors before bed

The fire service also warned: "Leaving devices to charge overnight increases the risk of a fire starting whilst no-one is awake to notice it and take early action.

"If you need to charge laptops and work phones, try to do it during the daytime whilst you work or in the evenings, when you're most likely to be awake and alert to any problems."

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