The family face Christmas in limbo after fleeing their burning home
Paul Greaves Senior News Reporter
05:00, 18 Dec 2025
A Bristol family has been left devastated by a ferocious blaze which ripped through their home and destroyed all their belongings – less than two weeks before Christmas. The fire erupted in a first-floor bedroom of the house in Horfield while mum Shannah was downstairs wrapping presents.
Everyone managed to escape as the fire tore through the three-storey building in Macauley Road on Friday night (December 12). Shannah, who preferred to only give her first name, said she is just thankful everyone is still alive but admits they have ‘lost everything’ including sentimental items.
The 35-year-old was in the housing association property at the time with her son and his girlfriend, both 16, her daughter, 15, and two dogs as the fire took hold.
Though the cause is unknown, the blaze started upstairs and rapidly spread. Everyone managed to run to safety outside as the smoke alarm alerted them to the danger, though Shannah ran back inside to rescue one of her dogs as it tried to get upstairs.
Now friends have launched a fundraiser to help the heartbroken mum and her children. The family spent the weekend in a hotel, which she said had been funded by friends.
Photos and video taken in the aftermath show the extent of the destruction at the property, which is owned by Brighter Places housing association. Charred walls and scorched remnants of the family’s life lie scattered about the rooms.
“I can’t thank the fire service enough for what they did,” says Shannah. “They were here so quickly and we are so grateful to them and everyone who has helped us and showed us kindness.
Fire has destroyed a family’s home in Bristol(Image: Submited)
“I’ve been back to the house and there is nothing left. There is water damage where they had to hose the house.
“The smoke went up to the ceiling on the third floor. The window was blown out. When we were outside we could see all the smoke coming out of the bedroom windows.
“I’m just trying to stay positive because we have got our lives and I want to keep my sanity. That it happened right before Christmas is something else.
“My son has lost everything. The only photo he had of his dad, a toy crocodile he’s had since he was two years old. Everything the boy owned is gone and he’s depressed. We had the Christmas lights up and the tree and I was wrapping presents and suddenly it’s all gone.”
Fire has destroyed a family’s home in Bristol(Image: Submited)
It was pizza and movie night in the house when the fire began. When the smoke alarm went off at 9.40pm Shannah went upstairs to check, noticing smoke coming out towards the upstairs landing. She saw her son’s bed on fire and alerted her daughter, who was in the bath.
“His whole mattress was like a ring of fire,” she said. “It came whooshing out of his room. I shouted for my daughter to get out and she came running downstairs.
Fire crews at the scene of the blaze(Image: Submited)
“Then I was just trying to get the kids out to safety.”
In the chaos one of the dogs ran upstairs towards the danger. Shannah ran back in to carry the animal outside.
She got the family into the car and alerted elderly neighbours next door to evacuate. The family watched from the street as fire crews arrived and tackled the blaze, powerless to stop what was happening to their home.
Thankfully nobody was hurt, although Shannah said her daughter did attend hospital the next day with breathing issues and a tight chest.
Fire has destroyed a family’s home in Bristol(Image: Submited)
“We’ve lost everything,” says Shannah. “I’m very grateful for the help but I’m really a shy person and I don’t want to ask anything of other people.”
The GoFundMe appeal has so far raised just over £1,000 – half way towards its target. The appeal says: “My friend’s house has caught fire from no fault of her own. The whole house is damaged.
“She has lost all her furniture, memories, clothes, everything, two weeks before Christmas. All her Christmas presents.
“A family left with nothing. To help them restore furniture etc once they are back on their feet would be appreciated.”
You can see the fundraiser by visiting this link.
The charred remains of one of the rooms(Image: Submited)
A spokesperson for Brighter Places housing association said: “We are very sorry to hear about the fire that happened over the weekend, especially in the run up to Christmas, and we are glad that everyone affected is safe and well.
“Our teams and partners acted promptly over the weekend to arrange emergency accommodation, and we will continue to provide a suitable alternative for as long as is needed at no cost to the customer.
“Our housing teams are working closely with partners to arrange both grant funding, charitable donations and practical support for the provision of essentials for day to day living so our customer has everything they need and are not out of pocket.
“We will of course continue working closely with the customer to support them over the coming days and weeks.”