Family 'lost everything' after house fire 'started by solar panels'

‘Heartbroken’ family of six say they have ‘lost everything’ just weeks before Christmas after their home was gutted in fire ‘started by solar panels’

• Stacey Doocey, 32, and Jayce Hogan, 25, spent 12 years perfecting their home
• A fire ripped through their property in Cheetham Hill, Manchester on October 6
• Fire inspectors believe cause may be solar panels as an investigation continues 

A ‘heartbroken’ family-of-six say they have ‘lost everything’ just weeks before Christmas after their home was gutted in a fire, thought to have been started by solar panels. 

Stacey Doocey, 32, and Jayce Hogan, 25, spent 12 years transforming their property in Cheetham Hill in Manchester into their perfect home, putting ‘every penny’ they had into it. 

Stacey, a stay-at-home mother, was terrified when the fire ripped through the property on October 6, after she spotted flames in her eldest child’s bedroom.

She grabbed her children and ran outside before watching the property burn to the ground.  

Fire inspectors think solar panels may be to blame, although an investigation into the cause is still underway.

A ‘heartbroken’ family-of-six say they have ‘lost everything’ just weeks before Christmas after their home was gutted in a fire

Stacey Doocey, 32, and Jayce Hogan, 25, spent 12 years transforming their property in Cheetham Hill in Manchester into their perfect home (the couple are pictured)

Stacey, a stay-at-home mother, was terrified when the fire ripped through the property on October 6, after she spotted flames in her eldest child’s bedroom

Luckily no one was harmed but Stacey said if the fire had happened half an hour later her four children, Emaleah, 13, Kodie, seven, Jayce, one and Alyssa, seven months would have been in bed. 

She said: ‘You never think it will happen to you. It makes me really sad, as we cannot replace everything we have lost all in one go – especially for the children.

‘Christmas is going to be a struggle because we’ve put every penny into our house, replacing the interior and any essential appliances lost.

‘We’ll be spending Christmas in a temporary home this year – but I’ll miss our old beautiful house which used to be filled with decorations we had collected.

‘I’ve lost them all, so we’ll have to start from scratch. We just have to try and look forward to making new memories.

‘It may take a few Christmases and birthdays to rebuild everything, but we have a lot of good people around us that will ensure our children won’t go without.

‘We’ve lost everything, including sentimental items, all we’ve worked hard for and the older children lost their iPads and games consoles.

‘It was Kodie’s birthday the week before and all his presents are gone, it’s been absolutely devastating.

‘Honestly, I’m scared of moving into a home of our own again in case this happens again.’

Fire inspectors think solar panels may be to blame, although an investigation into the cause is still underway

The family have lost years of happy memories in the property, as well as thousands of pounds. Pictured: Kodie’s bed before the fire, and after

The family are worried that the fire means they will have a bleak Christmas this year. Pictured: Celebrating Christmas in 2021

Stacey grabbed her children and ran outside before watching the property burn to the ground

Fire fighters attended the scene at 7pm and battled the blaze for three hours

Since the fire they have moved into Jayce’s mother’s two-bedroom home.  

Stacey recalled the traumatic ordeal, where she had a ‘gut-wrenching’ feeling upon hearing the fire alarm sound.

She said: ‘I was washing the dishes and suddenly, the alarm went off, so I ran upstairs and all I could see was smoke filling the hallway.

‘I screamed to my partner to come up and he went into our eldest daughter’s room, where he saw roaring flames.

‘I quickly grabbed my babies, ran downstairs and outside – I didn’t think for one minute at this point we would lose our home.

‘It was heartbreaking watching my first home since leaving my parents’ burn to the ground and the rooms glowing bright orange, as well as the windows smashing was unimaginable.’

Luckily, Emaleah was at dance class and Kodie was playing with friends – with all those left in the home, including their dog, safe.

Stacey said: ‘If this happened half an hour later, my babies would’ve been fast asleep in their cots. It’s not worth thinking about.

‘We were put in a hotel for the first four nights, but since then, we’ve been at my mother-in-law’s for nearly three weeks.

‘It’s nine of us in a three-bed property, but we’re just grateful to have a roof over our heads.

‘The older children are heartbroken, but myself and my husband are trying to be strong and rebuild our lives.

‘Life is very hectic at the moment, it’s been so exhausting.’

Stacey and Jayce have been left with thousands of pounds taken away from them, as well as a lifetime of memories

Stacey said: ‘We’ve lost everything, including sentimental items, all we’ve worked hard for and the older children lost their iPads and games consoles’. Pictured: Emaleah’s bedroom before the fire

The damage extended into the front yard as it became filled with rubble from the fire

While the investigation still continues into the cause, fire inspectors believe solar panels may be to blame – but the family had no initial concerns prior to the blaze.

Now, they’ve been left with thousands of pounds taken away from them, as well as a lifetime of memories.

She added: ‘I’ve lived in this area my whole life and for the first time, I’m terrified of going back.

‘But I won’t be returning back to my old home, as I will never forget what has happened.

‘I hope the children will have a place to feel safe and call home soon.’

A Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: “At 7pm on Thursday, October 6, firefighters were called out to a house fire on Corbridge Walk, Manchester.

“Three fire engines from Philips Park, Blackley and Broughton – as well as a turntable ladder from Manchester Central – attended the scene where a fire in a bedroom in an end terraced property had broken out.

“Firefighters used three hose reels, six breathing apparatus, a positive pressure ventilation fan and four gas monitors to tackle the fire and were detained for approximately three hours.

You can donate to the family’s GoFundMe here.

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