Praise for hero firefighters and neighbours who kicked down door when Chesterfield house exploded in terrifying blaze

Family and neighbours have praised fire crews and the local community for coming together to help a Chesterfield man who lost everything after a washing machine in his home started a fire.

Kasia Raczkiewicz, 48, was at her home on Windermere Road in Newbold with her partner Patryk Prukop and son Michał at around 3.30pm on Saturday afternoon (November 7) when she heard a loud bang.

She ran to the window to discover her neighbour’s house was on fire.

Kasia, who moved to the UK from Poland, said: “We’ve heard an explosion. I opened the garden door to have a look.

“A window in my neighbour's house exploded and we saw the flames.

“We were worried about the neighbour so me and my partner Patryk went to his house.

“Patryk kicked the door in and we wanted to get in with fire extinguishers but the flames were already very big and we couldn’t get in.

“We then realised the neighbour was already outside.

“He was shocked and I think he had a small burn on his head, but it wasn’t serious.

“My son called 999. Emergency services were worried there might be another explosion and asked him to tell everyone to evacuate and get away from the house.

“He was shouting to everyone on the street to back off from the house.”

Kasia’s son Michal Jeziorski, 22, who called the emergency services was upstairs when the explosion happened.

He said: “I heard a loud sound. I thought maybe a cupboard fell down and I ran downstairs to check if mum was okay.

“We realised there was a fire in the neighbour’s house.

“Mum and Patryk ran outside to check on the neighbour and I called 999.

“The firefighters arrived in just eight minutes and they came all the way from Staveley.”

Four fire engines attended the scene.

No one was inside the property when firefighters arrived.

Firefighters remained on the scene for almost five hours and managed to prevent the flames from spreading to Kasia’s house.

A fire investigation has later revealed that the cause of the fire was accidental and started by a washing machine in the kitchen.

Commenting on the fire crews’ heroic efforts, Kasia said: “It was the first time in my life that I’ve seen firefighters at work.

“They did a phenomenal job.

“They saved our house and I can’t thank them enough.

“If they arrived a few minutes later, the outcome might have been completely different.

“It was incredible to see how much work they had to do - and yet they kept smiling and saying to us ‘don’t worry’ which gave us the support we needed.

“The support from our neighbours was incredible as well.

“The neighbours and people from surrounding streets came out to check if we were okay.

“They offered food and drinks, said we can warm in their cars if we get too cold. They said that if the fire crews can’t save our house we can sleep at their house.

“I cannot describe how much their support meant for us.

“You are standing there looking at the fire, not sure if you will have a house to come back to, and support and kindness goes a really long way.”

Kasia added: “The most important thing is that our neighbour is alive and safe and we are alive and safe.

“Yes, he lost his house and all his belongings but you can buy material things and rebuild over time. The most important thing is that he is okay.”

To help the neighbour, a man in his sixties who doesn’t want to be named, his niece Ashley Pendleton set up a GoFundMePage, which has already raised nearly £2000 out of £6000 target.

Kasia, who shared the fundraiser, said: “It’s great to see that so many people have already donated.

“I’ve shared the fundraiser on Facebook and many people have commented to say they can give away their appliances and clothes. It’s really wonderful to see the support from our local community.”

Ashley praised Kasia and her family.

She added: “When Kasia and her partner heard the explosion they ran over to my uncle’s house and kicked down the door because they thought my uncle was inside.

“Before they even thought about their own home, they thought about my uncle

“They did absolutely everything that they could until they found him and supported him after.

“It’s a commendable and incredible act of kindness.

“They were very selfless. It’s rare that people do this kind of thing anymore and I just can't thank them enough.

“Thankfully my uncle, who is a mechanic, was fixing my husband's car, when the fire started.

“If he was in the house, it would have been a very different story.

“When my uncle was just standing there watching his house burning down, Kasia and her family were really there for him.”

While no one sustained any serious injuries, Ashley explained that her uncle, who had lived in the house for around 10 years, lost almost everything including all his belongings and documents.

She said: “He has literally lost everything other than what clothes he had on that day, and what was in his pocket, which was his phone and my husband's car keys.

“He lost his house. The whole of the downstairs area is basically just melted. Every window blew up.”

Since Ashley launched the fundraiser three days ago, the family has already received many offers from residents and businesses offering support, clothes, second-hand appliances and more.

Ashley said: “We want to thank anyone who has already donated or shared the fundraiser.

“We’ve had so many people who know my uncle and strangers contacting us to help.

“People have been offering furniture, appliances, clothes and shoes.

“The support we have had so far has been overwhelming.

“What we've raised so far will definitely help my uncle to find a new home and set it all up.”

Ashley, who is a designated fire warden has also issued an important appeal to warn others following the blaze.

She said: “You see disasters like this in the news or on the telly, but it doesn’t sink in that this could happen until it happen to a family member of someone you know.

“Me and my husband are designated fire wardens at work and we have out basic fire warden training every year, but it’s still shocking.

“My uncle wasn’t even in the house when the washing machine started the fire.

“Ever since it's happened, every time I leave the house, I'm turning all the switches off and making sure nothing is switched off.

“I can’t stress how important it is to raise awareness to make sure to check all your appliances and not to take safety of electrical goods in their home for granted.

“It’s also important remind people that things like this can happen, and it's good to have preparations in place.

“My uncle lost all his documents and I now realise how important it is to have a digital or physical copy of ID and important documents that are not in the house.”