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'We've lost everything weeks before Christmas'

BBC A concerned man stood outside his house with a sad look on his face, due to the damage on the property behind him. He has a bald head, beard and behind him is a cream terraced house.BBC
Chris Pearson shares the house with his daughter and three grandchildren

A family say they have lost more than two decades of memories, along with the presents from their little girl's first birthday, after fire tore through their home.

An electrical fault is believed to have caused the blaze, which also destroyed their Christmas presents, at the house off Holderness Road in Hull at 23:30 GMT on 29 November.

Homeowner Chris Pearson, 49, said: "I'm still trying to process it. You walk around and people have decorations up everywhere and it does get quite emotional."

A spokesperson for Humberside Fire and Rescue Service said the blaze started accidentally and smoke alarms, which were installed in the property, failed to go off.

A living room with severe fire damage, lots of dust and ash and blacked out furniture. A fire-damaged Christmas tree is in the corner.
The family said they have been told not to keep anything due to smoke damage and risk of it being toxic

Mr Pearson, who shares the house with his daughter and three grandchildren, aged one, two and six, has lived there for about 21 years.

The fire started in an upstairs bedroom and spread throughout the house.

The family were out at the time.

Mr Pearson smelled smoke when he was walking down the terrace with daughter Kaitlin, 24, but did not realise it was coming from their home.

His "natural reaction" caused him to run inside to try to save their possessions and he then suffered from smoke inhalation. There were no other injuries.

A lady with a glum look on her face stood outside of her old house. She is wearing a green hoodie and has long red hair.
Ms Pearson told the BBC she lost sentimental objects, such as her children's memory boxes, blankets and her positive pregnancy test from her first child

Mr Pearson said he tried to save a couple of family photos, but admitted "everything is gone".

He said: "Obviously, I'm upset, but they're possessions and they can be replaced. Life can't, kids can't and that was my main concern."

A GoFundMe page has been started online by a relative and Mr Pearson said he was "amazed by the support".

Humberside Fire and Rescue Service said: "Firefighters treated an adult for smoke inhalation and paramedics took them to the hospital for further checks.

"The remaining rooms of the home suffered from smoke damage.

"We, along with our fire service colleagues across the country, remind everyone to regularly check that their smoke alarms are working.

"They give you those vital seconds to get out if a fire starts in your home."

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