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Chronicle Live
Chronicle Live
National
Kristy Dawson

Northumberland dad loses belongings after escaping house blaze - just months after his daughter

A dad lost all of his belongings when his home went up in flames - just months after his daughter escaped a blaze at her own home.

Paul Robison woke up to his two fire alarms going off and discovered that his living room was on fire. The 48-year-old managed to escape from the property and his neighbours smashed the back door to save his 10-year-old Staffordshire Bull Terrier Bolt.

Five minutes after Paul and Bolt left the house in Berwick, Northumberland, there was an explosion which smashed the windows.

Read more: Northumberland dad, 28, diagnosed with rare cancer just two months after birth of son

All of Paul's belonging were destroyed and his beloved cockatiel Pika also lost his life.

The cause of the fire, on May 12, is understood to be an electrical fault in the living room.

Paul's dog Bolt was saved from the fire but his cockatiel Pika died (Chronicle Live)

Dad-of-two Paul said: "I woke up to my fire alarms going off. I opened the door, I saw the smoke and went down the stairs. I opened the sitting room door and the next thing I know it was hot. I ran outside.

"My neighbours next door put the back door window out and got Bolt out. I was grateful to them for saving him.

"The firemen said I had about 10 minutes to get out of the house. They said the fire would have went straight up my stairs.

"The front window in the sitting room exploded not long after I got out of the house. I feel lucky to have got out."

Fire damage caused to Paul Robison's home in Berwick (Chronicle Live)

Just three months earlier, Paul's daughter Amie Robison, 18, and his granddaughter Everly, now 10 months, were lucky to escape from a fire at their own home in Alnwick, Northumberland.

Amie said a neighbour ran to the property in February this year to tell her to get out as her kitchen was on fire.

Amie, who was in the living room with her daughter at the time, said the fire alarm failed to go off.

Amie Robison with her daughter Everly (Chronicle Live)

The full-time mum said: "I recently just had a house fire as well. It was really scary at the time.

"My neighbour started banging on my door saying 'You're kitchen's on fire get out!'. I didn't hear it until I paused my TV."

Amie said the fire at her home was believed to have been caused by a electrical fault on the cooker, which led to a chip pan being set alight.

Amie's kitchen also went up in flames early this year (Chronicle Live)

She said she was left shaken when she heard her dad's house had also gone up in flames.

She said: "About a month ago, my sister phoned me. She was crying and saying 'dad's house was on fire'.

"I was in shock but I was trying to keep it together for him. I've never heard of it happening to anyone in our family and then it happens to me and my dad!

"He woke up at quarter past six in the morning to the fire alarms going off. He walked downstairs, opened the living room and heard a 'woosh' sound. The fire got bigger when he opened the living room door.

"The fire brigade said he was lucky to get out - as soon as they got there the house blew up. I'm glad he got out in time."

Paul Robison with his granddaughter Everly (Chronicle Live)

Amie said they have been told that an electrical fault is also likely to have caused the fire in her dad's home.

She said: "The plugs must have set on fire in the corner of the room, caught the sofa and the curtains and went up in flames.

"He's lost literally every single part of that house, it's all gone. My dad had a lot of stuff left to him by his dad, who passed away when he was young, and a lot of mine and my sister's childhood memories were there. It's all been burnt and it can't be replaced."

Amie has set up a Go Fund Me page to help her dad get back on his feet and more than £1,300 has already been donated.

She said local businesses have also offered to provide him with furniture and carpets for free.

Paul Robison with his daughter Amie in 2019 (Chronicle Live)

She said that her dad will be able to move back into the property, which is owned by Northumberland County Council, once all of the damage has been repaired. However she said this could take up to a year.

Amie said: "I wanted to set the Go Fund Me page up as my dad has done a lot for me. He was a single dad and he brought me and my sister up himself. The community is coming together for him. I'm really grateful to the people who have donated."

Paul, who is currently living with his mum, said: "I am upset because I had lots of photos of my daughters and a lot of memories.

"I just want to say thank you to everyone who has helped me. Everyone in Berwick has been bringing me clothes. I'm grateful."

The pair have both urged others to ensure that the fire alarm in their home works correctly.

Amie said: "Make sure all the fire alarms are in working order and get them checked. They saved my dad's life."

Paul added: "Make sure you have got fire alarms as they do really save lives!"

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