Homes blacked out by garden blaze

A FAMILY had a unwelcome moving-in present when fire swept up the outside of their new home.

The family had moved into the house in Braithwell Road, Maltby, just three days before sparks from a back garden fire set fire to cardboard boxes and other rubbish piled up by the side of the building.

The blaze damaged a window frame and guttering, as well as the power lines to three neighbouring houses, temporarily leaving them without electricity.

A fire service spokesman confirmed that firefighters would be visiting the family again in the wake of the incident at 8pm yesterday  to remind them of the dangers of leaving fires unattended.

"This just shows how fire can spread," he said.

"There was a relatively small amount of damage but neighbouring properties were also affected.

"Sparks from a fire in a chiminea at the back of the property landed nearby and spread the fire to household rubbish, including empty cardboard boxes and carpets, which had been piled up against the side of the property.

"It spread to a window and damaged outside lighting cables, soffits and about five metres of guttering.

"It was partly caused by the rubbish being stored so close to the property."

The spokesman also noted that the house did not have any working smoke alarms.