Warning as horror house fire sparked by every day household object left plugged in for 18 hours
A woman who has been left homeless after a horror house fire has issued a warning about the household appliance that sparked the flames after being plugged in for 18 hours.
Tanya Bennett, 36, was told by firefighters her vacuum cleaner had set alight with her three dogs trapped upstairs whilst she was at work on Monday.
Luckily, a neighbour raised the alarm and firefighters managed to rescue French Bulldogs Lewi and Monkey and her Cockapoo Luna from the burning building.
Every room in the house other than the kitchen suffered fire damage with Ms Bennett estimating it will cost thousands to replace all of her furniture and redecorate.
She had left her vacuum plugged in after cleaning the night before and then gone to work in the morning, leaving it plugged in for 18 hours in total before it ignited.
Ms Bennett was still at work when the fire started and said her neighbour called to tell her about the blaze and informed her she had called the fire brigade.
'I'm absolutely devastated, helpless and in shock. I couldn't believe it when the firefighters said it was caused by the vacuum cleaner,' the marketing manager, from Telford, Shropshire, said.
'When I got home, the firefighters had only recovered one dog as he was in the kitchen which was the only room that wasn't damaged because the door was shut.
Ms Bennett was still at work when the fire started and said her neighbour called to tell her about the blaze and informed her she had called the fire brigade
'The other two dogs were trapped upstairs by the smoke. It was heartbreaking.
'I was screaming and crying and they brought the dogs out one by one. They were black.'
She described how all of her furniture and clothes are 'covered in soot' and her TV cabinet has 'melted'.
'Basically every single item in my house is covered by smoke. There's not one single item that is not. The whole house needs specialist cleaning and I can't go in without PPE,' she added.
With the house completely uninhabitable, Ms Bennett is living in temporary accommodation and doesn't know when she'll be able to go home.
Her dogs are now staying at her friend's house as she isn't allowed to keep them in her temporary accommodation.
Ms Bennett said: 'I didn't think that a vacuum cleaner could even catch fire. How much damage it's caused is crazy. Apparently the dust particles inside are very combustible.
'Just turn everything off at the wall or unplug appliances. Even though the electrics tripped and cut off it didn't matter as the fire still continued once it had sparked.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Guardian
an hour ago
- The Guardian
Revealed: More than 24,000 factory farms have opened across Europe
American-style intensive livestock farms are spreading across Europe, with new data revealing more than 24,000 megafarms across the continent. In the UK alone, there are now 1,824 industrial-scale pig and poultry farms, according to the data obtained by AGtivist that relates to 2023. The countries with the largest number of intensive poultry farm units are France, UK, Germany, Italy and Poland in that order. For poultry farming alone, the UK ranks as having the second-highest number of intensive farms at 1,553, behind France with 2,342. The top 10 countries for intensive pig and poultry farms combined are Spain, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, UK, Denmark, Poland, Belgium and Hungary, according to information obtained from the European Commission, and country-specific regulatory agencies and colleges. Intensive livestock units are farms where 40,000 or more poultry, 2,000 or more fattening pigs, or 750 or more breeding sows are being held at any one time in the EU and the UK. The increase in so-called megafarms across Europe comes as the number of small farms has reduced dramatically, and the income gap between large and small farms has increased, according to Guardian research. The rise in intensive farming has coincided with a decline in birds, tree species and butterfly numbers. In the Severn and Wye Valleys, a UK hotspot for intensive poultry farming, there are 79 chickens per human, the Guardian has revealed. Across Europe the rise in large intensive poultry units is a key driver of river pollution. Chicken droppings contain more phosphates – which starve fish and river plants of oxygen – than any other animal manure. In the UK the number of intensive farms grew from 1,621 in 2017 to 1,824 in 2023, and according to data released under freedom of information laws to Terry Jermy, the MP for South West Norfolk, megafarms in England have breached environmental regulations nearly 7,000 times since 2015. The data shows that the Environment Agency carried out about 17 inspections of intensive livestock units a week in which 75% of those inspections found breaches. The breaches include slurry pits in disrepair, causing them to leak and pollute the local environment, and a serious case in which a site of special scientific interest was polluted by animal effluent. There were also some serious air pollution incidents and numerous breaches involving the over-stocking of animals. When serious breaches were found, action against the farms was rare. For the most serious breaches (category 1 and 2), more than half received either no further action, 'advice/guidance' or a warning. Fewer than half of the incidents received further action such as a formal warning, and less than 1% received a 'recommended' prosecution. Jermy said: 'These shocking numbers alongside the severity of the litany of offences clearly show that the huge increase to US-style factory farms since 2017 is harming our land and jeopardising our climate targets and sustainability ambitions moving forward. 'In my constituency farming is our lifeblood, as is the environment, and therefore, we must have a serious conversation as to what kind of farming we need moving forwards. It must be one that protects our communities, agriculture and nature, while furthering animal welfare standards as well as harnessing food security.' An Environment Agency spokesperson said: 'Environmental permitting provides a consistent, robust form of regulation, which identifies all non-compliances and requires them to be addressed, regardless of severity. In the past two years 98% of intensive pig and poultry farms have been scored in the highest bands for compliance, meaning they present a very low risk to the environment. This follows ongoing high levels of compliance over previous years. 'The vast majority of non-compliances identified are low risk, and we work with farmers to achieve compliance. Any high-risk non-compliances, or farms that fail to bring themselves into compliance, will face enforcement action.' Norfolk has been dubbed the 'megafarm capital of Europe' with statistics from Compassion in World Farming showing there are now 122 megafarms in the county and 25,748,309 factory-farmed animals. A megafarm in Jermy's constituency that would have reared almost 900,000 chickens and pigs at any one time was recently blocked by councillors over climate and pollution concerns. There were objections raised over air pollution and the impact on a water-depleted area. Revelations about the scale of livestock megafarms across Europe should be a wake-up call in Brussels, said Reineke Hameleers, the CEO of Eurogroup for Animals. '[It] goes against promises to improve animal welfare and move toward more sustainable farming. It's important that the European Commission makes smart, informed choices about the future of farming. Funding should go to farming systems that are truly sustainable, competitive, and resilient.'
Sky News
2 hours ago
- Sky News
India plane crash live: Ahmedabad to Gatwick flight carrying 242 people crashes; British national reportedly survived
15:26:40 British national survived Air India plane crash - NDTV report A British man who claims to have survived the crash in Ahmedabad has described the moment the plane went down. According to Sky News' partner network NDTV, Ahmedabad's police commissioner said one passenger survived the crash. NDTV names him as British-Indian man Vishwash Kumar Ramesh. Speaking to the Hindustan Times newspaper, Ramesh said he heard a "loud noise" around 30 seconds after take-off before the plane went down. "It all happened so quickly," he said, adding he had received "impact injuries" on his chest, eyes and feet. "When I got up, there were bodies all around me. I was scared. I stood up and ran. There were pieces of the plane all around me. Someone grabbed hold of me and put me in an ambulance and brought me to the hospital." He told Indian media he had lived in London for 20 years. He said that his brother Ajay was seated in a different row on the plane. Separately, footage shared on social media showed a man limping away from the crash site and being led towards emergency services. 15:20:01 Reason landing gear was still out 'remains a mystery' - and why Boeing may ground planes Paul Edwards, an aviation security analyst and fellow at the Royal Aeronautical Society, told Sky News the footage of the plane going down is difficult to watch. "There are two things that are needed for an aircraft take-off. One is adequate airspeed and the other one is a rate of climb," he said. "And that had neither." He added that normally pilots retract the aircraft's landing gear so that the plane can be more aerodynamic, and it's not clear why this wasn't done in the case of Air India Flight 171. "It could have been he (the pilot) just didn't have time. Or it could be that perhaps he thought he could control it, go round again on land or even land straight ahead." "We can't second-guess it," Edwards added. "So that remains, if you like, a mystery." He was also asked if the tragic crash raises questions about the type of plane - a Boeing 787 Dreamliner. "Well, they've got an impeccable safety record so far, but there will be massive impetus to get to the bottom of this in case there is a factor that could be applied to other aircraft within the fleet," he said. "In which case, they may have to ground them in, they may have to modify them." 15:12:30 'Injured passengers taken to hospitals', Air India boss says Campbell Wilson, the boss of Air India, has released a video statement expressing his "deep sorrow" following the plane crash in Ahmedabad. "This is a difficult day for all of us at Air India," he says. "Our efforts now are focused entirely on the needs of our passengers, crew members, their families and loved ones." He says the "injured passengers have been taken by local authorities to the nearest hospitals". "Investigations will take time, but anything we can do now, we are doing," Wilson adds. 15:07:01 Plane's path to crash - what tracking data and imagery tells us By Tom Cheshire, data and forensics correspondent Authorities quickly confirmed that Flight AI 171 crashed shortly after take-off - this is what tracking data and imagery of the crash can tell us. The plane took off on the usual flight path for this airport, bound for Gatwick. Watch below: Flight route shows plane's path This is based on incomplete tracking data - Flightradar24 has updated its findings, saying: "Additional processing confirms #AI171 departed using the full length of Runway 23 at Ahmedabad. RWY 23 is 11,499 feet long. The aircraft backtracked to the end of the runway before beginning its take-off roll." The crash location is only a couple of kilometres from the runway. There appear to be two main locations of plane debris. The initial crash, where the tail of the plane separated. And then further wreckage as the plane continued into apartment blocks, where the main fire broke out. The buildings it landed on appear to be the Atulyam 3 residential block and the Royal Mess food hall. Reviews online say that: "Atulyam is basically a series of flats and buildings for [medical] students of the civil hospital, Ahmedabad and an attached group of hospitals." 14:58:09 Air India's owners to offer victims' families around £86,000, company says Air India's owners, Tata Group, will offer around £86,000 to the families of each person who died in the Ahmedabad plane crash, the company said. A statement attributed to Natarajan Chandrasekaran, the chairperson of Air India, says the medical expenses of those injured will also be covered. "We remain steadfast in standing with the affected families and communities during this unimaginable time," it adds. 14:57:01 UK sending air accident inspectors to India The UK is deploying a team of four air accident inspectors to Ahmedabad to assist their Indian counterparts, a special adviser for the Department for Transport says. The team, from the UK's Air Accidents Investigation Branch, will depart from London this evening and arrive on site tomorrow afternoon. A liaison official is also being sent to Gatwick, where a reception centre for relatives is being set up. 14:50:01 Portuguese and Canadian leaders share messages in response to crash Among the 242 passengers on board, seven were Portuguese nationals and one was Canadian. Their conditions are not yet known. The leaders of each country have expressed condolences for the families of victims. Luis Montenegro, Portugal's prime minister, wrote in a post on social media: "It was with deep dismay that I learned of the tragic aviation accident in India, in which 7 citizens of Portuguese nationality were involved. "On my behalf and that of the government, I wish to express condolences and profound solidarity with the families of the victims." Mark Carney, Canada's prime minister, said he was "devastated" to learn of the crash. "My thoughts are with the loved ones of everyone on board," he wrote on social media. "Canada's transportation officials are in close contact with counterparts and I am receiving regular updates as the response to this tragedy unfolds." 14:43:01 Several fatal crashes in Air India's nine decades of operation Air India, which started operations in 1932, and its subsidiary Air India Express, have suffered several fatal crashes over the years. According to Aviation Safety Network (ASN), the most recent fatal crashes were: May 2010: Boeing 737-800 (Air India Express) overshot the runway at Mangalore, India, and crashed into a gorge, killing 158 people. August 2020: Boeing 737-800 (Air India Express) after landing in Karipur, India, the aircraft left the runway, rolled down an embankment and broke up, killing 21 people. Here are some recent non-fatal incidents, according to ASN, which references various sources: September 2024: Boeing 737-8HG (Air India Express) suffered engine problems after taking off from Delhi, which was confirmed by the airline, and the aircraft returned to the airport. October 2024: Boeing 737-8HG (Air India Express) declared an emergency immediately after take-off due to a hydraulic issue in Tamil Nadu, eventually landing safely, which a local minister said had affected the landing gear. December 2024: Airbus A320-251N started the take-off roll (the start of building up speed to take off) on a taxiway instead of the runway at Goa, according to the aviation safety regulator, but stopped when alerted by a tower controller. December 2024: Boeing 737-86N (Air India Express) returned to land at Kochi after tyre debris was found on the runway, according to Onmanorama, a local news outlet in Kerala. January 2025: Airbus A320-251N suffered an engine shutdown after departing Bangalore and landed safely at the same location, according to the Times of India.
Telegraph
2 hours ago
- Telegraph
Residents' fury as council saves ‘Jack and the Beanstalk' tree
Residents in Winchester have said they are 'extremely angry' after a council voted to protect a 'Jack and the Beanstalk' oak tree they say is dangerous. People living on one of the Hampshire city's most prestigious roads called the decision to issue a preservation order on the 45ft tree 'grotesquely irresponsible' and 'ludicrous'. Officials unanimously approved the order after hearing of the 'biodiversity value' the oak has to Canon Street, which is near Winchester Cathedral. Dr Sandra Steel, who lives nearby, spoke for residents at the Winchester city council planning meeting on Wednesday. According to the BBC, she said the tree's spreading roots 'cause structural damage', adding that 'our historic houses are particularly vulnerable'. On hearing the verdict, Dr Steel said: 'You are waiting for our houses to fall down, I guess.' She said [residents] all 'feel extremely angry' and called the decision 'quite ridiculous', adding: 'An oak tree belongs to an open area or a forest, not in gardens of historic houses.' The o ak tree was planted about 50 years ago and grew by 6ft last year. Residents have said it is 'out of proportion' to the surrounding properties and dominates the small garden in which it sits. When the current homeowners applied to have the tree felled, the council put a preliminary protection order on it, saying it was 'appreciated' by residents on a neighbouring street and was nice to look at. Mark Pocock, another resident, previously called the decision to protect the tree 'ludicrous', adding: 'If it were to fall and damage properties or persons, I would say the responsibility would be entirely with the council – not the owners of those properties. 'I think putting a tree protection order on it is grotesquely irresponsible. It could be a danger to property and life.' Nick Goff, who moved into his property on an adjacent road just over a year ago, added: 'The issue is that in 10 years that will be double the height and double the width. It put on 6ft last year, and it's going to put on another 6ft this year. 'Some guy planted this as something to do 40 years ago. Now, we have got Jack and the Beanstalk. It's not a historic tree – it's a silly mistake.' During the planning meeting, John Bartlett, the local authority's tree officer, said the oak was 'one of the last remaining significant trees' in that area. He told councillors: 'It has a significant biodiversity value supporting many different species. A mature oak tree can support up to 2,300 species, possibly more, when it reaches maturity, and its importance is only increased by the fact that it's in this urban landscape.'
