'Everything is gone now' - Family in shock as scale of destruction revealed after devastating house fire
A family of five made a lucky escape from a fire that tore through their home and destroyed their cars.
Michelle Goodwin, aged 43, Stuart Jones, 50, and their three children managed to escape before the fire took hold.
They were alerted by their eldest son shortly after midnight on Thursday when a fire started in the basement at their home in Huntsmans Walk, Kinver, near Stourbridge.
They left what remained of the charred house with only the clothes on their backs and watched in horror as their home of 18 years, which Mr Jones built with his father, was destroyed along with their BMW and work van.
The van contained gas cannisters which exploded but no one was injured.
Crews from Kinver, Wombourne, Brierley Hill and Stourbridge spent seven hours tackling the blaze from around 12.20 to 7.30am and an investigation is underway to discover the cause.
Miss Goodwin said: "Our son woke us up shouting 'there is a fire' 'there is a fire'. We thought we were dreaming. I did not see the flames, I only saw the smoke so we grabbed our children and ran outside.
"Within 10minutes, the house went up in flames. It was out of control.
"I was panicking and by the time the firefighters came, it was too late.
"We left everything behind including our phones, wallets and all the photos of the children. Everything is gone now.
"All we are thankful for is that we all got out and that the children are alright. If we had been in there for 60 seconds more, we would not have made it."
The family have praised the community spirit after neighbours ran into the street to offer them help and and clothes along with money are being collected for them at Potter's Cross Stores in White Hill, Kinver.
Brindley Heath Junior School, where their youngest, Zak, aged nine, studies, have promised to pay for a new uniform for him.
His siblings, Kian, aged 14, and Anece, aged 13, have had the day off school at Kinvor High School.
Mr Jones said: "I ran outside only in my boxers and there were about 40 people who came out and some offered us tracksuit bottoms and shoes. There is a close community here, the community spirit has been great and we are grateful for everything everyone has done.
"The firefighters have been brilliant too, they were there for hours with us."
The family have contacted their insurance company and expect to stay in rented accommodation while the house is rebuilt.
Anyone with donations can contact Potter's Cross Stores by calling 01384 872707.
