"Literally everything's gone" - heartbreak for Rotherham mum after blaze destroys family home and kills dog

A heartbroken friend recalled the moment the dog’s cries suddenly fell silent as flames engulfed the home in Thurcroft.

"It just stopped," said Rachel Egley, fighting back tears as she described the final moments of family dog Bear, the gentle giant, who died in the blaze.

Kim Bulmer, aged 35, was out with her children, Brooklyn, 16, and Penelope, three, when flames engulfed the property. While the family escaped unharmed, Bear was trapped inside.

Rachel said Kim's 70-year-old uncle, Jeff, risked his own life trying to rescue the dog.

She said: "Jeff lives across the road, and he could see smoke and hear Bear.

He jumped over the fence into the garden, kicked the back door in and crawled across the floor trying to get Bear out of his crate, but the flames and the smoke were just too much.

“It’s heartbreaking for them, he was very much loved – a beautiful gentle giant.”

The fire has also destroyed the house Kim had fought so hard to keep in her family.

The home had belonged to her grandfather before later passing to her father. After he died last year, Kim was determined not to lose the property.

She bought out her siblings so she could keep the house that had been in her family for generations and had only recently started moving in while renovating it room by room.

Rachel said: "Her dad was born there and raised there. She didn't want to sell it because it's got family heritage. She had to buy out her siblings to keep it.

"She'd been putting in a new bathroom, new flooring and doing it bit by bit. She worked so hard for that house."

In one small glimmer of hope amid the devastation, Kim's late father's ashes somehow survived the inferno.

Rachel said: "Miraculously, we don't know how it happened, but her dad's ashes survived."

Because ownership of the property had only recently been transferred after her father's death, the house was uninsured when the fire broke out.

Rachel said the family was initially told the fire may have been caused by a gas leak.

However, after it emerged the property was uninsured, she said the investigation was not taken any further.

Kim and her three-year-old daughter, Penelope, are now living in temporary emergency council accommodation.

Penelope has reportedly been left traumatised by the ordeal, losing all of her toys and has struggled to sleep since the fire.

Rachel said the youngster keeps asking for the comfort blanket that was destroyed in the blaze.

The fire has also wiped out Kim's livelihood.

Alongside running Manic Bouncy Castles, she owns a personalised printing business. Specialist printers, stock, mascot costumes worth hundreds of pounds each, were all destroyed.

Describing the devastation, Rachel said: "I went to see the house yesterday and it is literally burnt to a crisp – literally everything's gone."

Rachel has launched a GoFundMe appeal to help the family rebuild their lives, initially setting a £20,000 target, although she believes repairs could ultimately cost anywhere between £50,000 and £250,000.

She is also appealing for local businesses and tradespeople to donate materials or labour to help restore the home.

Rachel said: "We're hoping companies can help with the roof, electrics, plumbing – anything really. We're just hoping the right people will help."

Describing her friend, she added: "She'd give you the shirt off her back. She's helped charities and so many people.

“She always puts others first, even with her bouncy castle business, she will cancel things if she has to, to put children's safety first. She's hardworking, honest and caring.

"We're just hoping everyone can come together as a community. Even £1 can help."

The donation link can be found here: https://tinyurl.com/58j2bmvv

In a statement, South Yorkshire Fire Service said: “Firefighters responded to an incredibly intense fire at a house on Limetree Avenue, Thurcroft yesterday morning.

“The fire is believed to have started accidentally. Our thoughts are with the residents of the property who have lost so much in this devastating fire.

“Well done to our firefighters, officers and Control operators for their response.”