A mum of two has recalled the horrific moment her children were trapped inside their grandmother’s home as it burst into flames.
Max and Madeleine Ohamara were playing inside the house with their cousin on Leicester Road in Higher Broughton when a chest freezer in the dining room caused a fire due to an electrical fault.
The children were upstairs at the time and were unable to get out due to the large amount of smoke already in the property.
Their grandmother couldn't reach them and desperately tried to shout up to them to leave the house.
Fire crews from Broughton, Manchester Central, Agecroft and Philips Park stations quickly arrived to handle the incident, which occurred two years ago on October 27, 2019.
Mum Natasha Wilde said that when crews first arrived at the scene, they could see Max and Madeleine, who were aged three and eight at the time, banging on the windows trying to escape.
“Broughton firefighters were the first to arrive and they saw my children stood at the front window banging on the glass,” Natasha recalled.
“Two firefighters went into the house to fight the fire, while another firefighter went upstairs he started to bring out the children.
“Grandma was helped out by a neighbour. The fire was extinguished but the house was ruined and couldn’t be lived in for 14 months.”
Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus brought the fire under control using hose reels and a positive pressure ventilation fan cleared the smoke.
Following the house fire, smoke alarms were fitted in the property by fire crews.
“These things can happen to anyone,” Natasha said.
“I am careful now – I never leave a pan unattended on a stove or a flame lit.”
Two years on from the incident, Natasha visited Broughton Fire Station earlier this week to reunite Max and Madeleine with the heroic firefighters who helped save their lives.
“All three children spent the night in hospital due to smoke inhalation – they still talk about it now, it was traumatising for them,” Natasha adds.
“The visit to see the fire station helped them process what happened and learn about the work of GMFRS.
“I have stayed in touch with the crews at Broughton ever since.
“I am eternally grateful for those firefighters’ actions – I cannot say thank you enough. All I can say is we have rewarded them with biscuits!
“The children love all things firefighter – and the station have been incredibly accommodating.
“It feels like the firefighters enjoy seeing the children as much as the kids do. Also, there’s the education for them, including fire safety at home.”
Mat Wadeson, Crew Manager at Broughton, said: “It was great to see Natasha and her family when they attended Broughton Fire Station.
“Fire crews do not always have contact with the people we help following an incident, but to have the family come down means a lot to us.
“To have such a good outcome and then be able to talk to the family helps both sides piece together what happened on the day.
“The kids were shown the equipment we used on the day and were introduced to the crew that rescued them. We look forward to seeing Natasha and family in the not-too-distant future.”
Residents across Greater Manchester can access a new Online Home Fire Safety Check tool at manchesterfire.gov.uk, which helps identify fire hazards in your home and get advice on simple changes you can make to reduce the risk of a fire.
If you are unable to access the online tool, you can contact GMFRS by phone on 0800 555 815.
