Mum-of-five's devastation as young family lose everything in house fire...all they have left is a burnt-out bunk bed and the clothes on their backs

A fire tore through Kassandra Yates-Conway's home after a power cut on Wednesday

The charred metal frame of a bunk bed is all that remains of a children's bedroom after a fire ripped through a family home in Bolton.

Mum Kassandra Yates-Conway says her children have lost everything 'apart from the clothes on their backs' following the blaze at their home in Wigan Road, Westhoughton, on Wednesday evening.

Kassandra, 33, and her four daughters, aged 15, 11, 8, and 5, as well as her 19-month-old son, were out at the time, having gone to stay with relatives following a power cut earlier in the evening.

When they returned several hours later, they found their home ablaze.

Kassandra explained: "We had a power cut at about 8pm so I sent the children to relatives because I didn't want them sitting in the dark and cold.

"I went to my grandma's house with my eldest daughter and got a message later in the evening saying the power was back.

"When I came home I tried to switch the lights on and the house was full of smoke. We didn't know what was going on at first."

After realising the upstairs of the property was on fire, Kassandra rushed outside with her daughter and the family's pet dog and waited for firefighters.

Crews arrived at the scene at about 11.15pm and managed to bring the blaze under control. However, clothes, toys, cots and beds belonging to the children have all been destroyed.

Hundreds of pounds worth of Christmas presents have also been damaged beyond repair.

Kassandra said: "We've lost everything that was upstairs.

"The kids don't have anything apart from the clothes on their backs.

"One of my daughters was wearing her school uniform at the time so she doesn't have any of her own clothes left.

"All their toys need to be thrown away because they're damaged. Nothing upstairs is salvageable.

"I've been buying Christmas presents since June because we have a big family, but all of those are ruined."

The blaze is believed to have started in an upstairs bedroom due to an electrical fault.

The family have since been told the house is unlivable, and have been taken in by relatives while they search for long-term accommodation.

However, despite her devastation, Kassandra says the outcome 'could have been a lot worse' had it happened in the middle of the night.

A JustGiving page has since been set up in a bid to help the family replace the possessions they have lost.

Drop off points for donations of clothing and household items have also been set up at The Hub in Central Drive, Westhoughton.

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Following the blaze, Greater Manchester Fire & Rescue service have warned people not to overload plug sockets.

GMFRS’ Head of Prevention, Area Manager Damian O’Rourke, said: “By taking just a few simple measures, you can significantly reduce the chance of an electrical fire in your home, ensuring you and your family are kept safe.

“Fortunately at this incident, nobody was hurt and firefighters limited the damage to the first floor of the property, but it could have been far worse.

“Plugging too many appliances into one socket can cause overheating which can then lead to a fire, so please avoid doing this and only ever use one extension lead per socket.”

They have issued the following advice to residents:

- Never overload plug sockets or extension leads

- Keep extension leads to one per socket

- Keep combustible materials away from sources of heat

- Turn electrical products off at the socket when they are not being used

- Check wires and cables for fraying regularly

To donate to the family, visit www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/yates-conwayfire