'Stray firework' blaze family's relief at finally finding a new home
A Telford family who lost everything in a freak house fire have settled in their new home with delight after months of being moved around.
Jordan Offland, her partner Gavin Hughes and her two daughters finally have a new place to call home, after a fire last Halloween that gutted their home in Woodside.
It is thought the fire was sparked by a stray firework – in lockdown conditions last year firework displays were an almost nightly occurrence in Telford.
The family had to stay with Ms Offland's parents and were shifted from place to place in the months following the fire, but now thanks to the Sanctuary housing group they have moved into a permanent new home in Sutton Hill.
It's nice to have a place to call home," said Ms Offland.
"My daughters have gone back to school this week and it's nice for them to come home to a permanent home again."
Coby, 15, and Casey-Taylor, nine, were reunited with their beloved pets too – the family's three dogs and two cats had to be rehomed temporarily while their owners were without their own accommodation.
A fundraising page set up after the fire raised more than £1,100 for the family, and Ms Offland said they were full of gratitude for the many people who donated.
"We do appreciate everything everyone has done for us. I can't thank all the community enough. Even with Covid, people have been willing to help us," she said.
Online marketplace company OnBuy donated a hamper with 29 gifts, totalling a value of over £1,000.
Devastating
The gifts included an Apple iPad and Apple AirPods, as well as unicorn slippers, teddy fleece bedding and LED lights.
Cas Paton, CEO and founder of OnBuy, said: “No family should experience anything as devastating as the Offland family have, and being a father myself, I can’t begin to imagine how difficult the last year has been for them. Community is so important to us at OnBuy, and it was incredibly inspiring to see how Jordan’s local community stepped up to support the family after the fire and we wanted to do our bit to help.
“When we heard that the family were moving into their new, permanent home, we wanted to gift Jordan’s daughters some items to make this move even more exciting. With access to millions of products, from kitchenware to technology, we’re in the ideal position to help make the Offland family’s new house feel like a home.”
Despite her relief, Ms Offland will endure a difficult anniversary this week – her son Cade Cummings would have seen his 17th birthday this weekend but he died at just a few days old, and all of her mementoes of his life were lost in the fire.
Cade's death was one of dozens investigated as part of the baby ashes scandal at Emstrey, where crematorium staff failed to return grieving families with the ashes of their babies.
"People have given me canvases but it's just not like the real thing," she said.
The Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service investigated the house fire last year to try to determine its cause, though Ms Offland said they have not yet told her about their findings. The service have been approached for comment.
