Family left homeless after fire rips through their home in Reigate

Available for over a year

Emily Becconsall and her two children managed to run free of the burning building, but almost all of their possessions were lost to the flames. This includes furniture, clothes and most of the children’s toys. The trio are staying with a family member while they get back on their feet – but Emily is warning others to make sure they have contents insurance. The blaze started in a cupboard and was caused by an electrical fault inside an immersion timer. Emily told BBC Surrey: “We’re lucky to have got out because if that had happened in the middle of the night, where the two bedrooms are either side of that cupboard, I would not have been able to get past and get my children. So I’m thankful it happened when it did, but it’s still an absolute disaster. “Panic just takes over everything. You have these things, ‘What would you take in a fire?’ “Well the kids were one and I think I just grabbed my phone because I knew I needed to call family and that was it. Your mind goes blank when you’re put under that sort of pressure. “You don’t think it’s ever going to happen to you and when it does: you’re not prepared.”