Eight families have been left homeless after a disposable barbecue ignited a fire that spread through eight terraced houses in Basildon, Essex, on June 21. The blaze rendered the properties completely uninhabitable.
Fire and rescue crews from seven stations responded to the fire, battling to control its spread across the rooftops. One resident, Paryss Reynolds, 25, described how her mother was using the barbecue when a nearby tree caught fire. Reynolds stated that her mother had gone inside to eat after cooking a burger, only to hear a loud noise and discover the tree ablaze. Attempts to douse the flames with a bucket of water were unsuccessful as the fire rapidly spread to the roof and subsequently to adjacent homes.
"I can't believe my home is gone but it's not just us, these are all family homes and everybody has been made homeless," Reynolds said. "My mum can't get the sound of sirens out of her ears, she is in so much shock and heartbroken, she feels so guilty for everyone." She added, "It's just devastating, we have lost everything."
Mike Campbell, a neighbor living across the street, reported seeing the smoke and fire engines arriving shortly after. He described the scene as scary, noting that the fire appeared to spread quickly, potentially due to the bitumen on the flat roofs. While his property, which backs onto the affected row, sustained only ash and mess, he acknowledged the fortunate escape and the shock felt by the community given the similar construction of the houses.
Fundraisers have been established to support the affected families, including a GoFundMe initiated by Basildon Council. Reynolds and her family, along with other residents, are currently in temporary accommodation provided by the council, such as a hotel, while they seek more suitable long-term housing. Reynolds noted that upon a brief return to her home, she observed severe damage, with the roof bowing inward and appearing close to collapse.
The incident occurred during a severe heatwave gripping Britain, with record-breaking temperatures and rare red weather warnings in effect. Highs were expected to reach up to 40C, approaching the all-time UK record. The extreme heat also led to widespread disruption, with nearly 500 schools closing early and warnings of potential travel delays due to the risk of rail infrastructure damage.