Community rallies around after serious blaze destroys Mansfield home

Crews were called to Clayworth Court on the Bellamy Road estate in the early hours of July 6 to extinguish a serious house fire.

When they arrived, firefighters found three houses alight and used breathing apparatus, hose and main jets to put out the blaze.

A total of seven properties were evacuated, but the blaze was contained within the three homes, completely destroying one property.

A social media appeal quickly amassed offers from members of the community to provide clothing for the families, one of which was a baby who is only a few days old, who had been left with nothing other than the clothes on their backs.

Councillor John Smart who looks after the Bellamy Estate as part of his Ransom Wood ward, spoke of his pride at the response to the appeal: “I feel so proud to be the representative for this estate.

“We have had so many offers for help, and within hours the families had enough to get by for a few days.

“We’re now working with the council to ensure the tenants are re-homed quickly and the residents know we are here if they need anything once they are rehoused.”

The families have been offered clothing, toys and even furniture, with concerned residents rallying around to collect on their behalf.

Nearby neighbours took to social media and spoke of how quickly the blaze took hold: “It was a massive fire, really scary how big it was.

“I woke up to the smell of smoke and saw it.”

A spokesman for Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service said residents had all been accounted for and added: "Fire crews arrived on the scene from Mansfield, Ashfield, Blidworth, London Road, Hucknall, Edwinstowe and Stapleford fire stations.

“Crews used six pumps and an aerial ladder platform to put out the fire, which was contained and dampened down by 6.30am.

“Nottinghamshire Police put up a cordon on Bellamy Road, and the ambulance service also attended.”

A spokesman for Nottinghamshire Police said two people were taken to hospital for smoke inhalation, but they have since been discharged.

A crime scene remains in place whilst detectives investigate the cause and work with Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service.

Police have now put out an appeal for witnesses, as they try and determine the cause of the fire.

Detective Sergeant Matt Scott said: "We were called in the early hours of this morning to assist the local fire service to evacuate occupants from seven properties safely.

“We are keeping an open mind at this stage and we are keen to speak to anyone who may have witnessed the incident or seen someone they don’t know enter or leave the building.

"We are now appealing to anyone who saw anything suspicious in the area at that time to ring 101, quoting incident number 27 of 6 July 2020."

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