Seven family members left homeless by devastating fire
Luke Lee-Smith and family lost all their possessions in the Trimingham fire. Pictures: David Bale - Credit: Archant
Seven members of the same family have been left homeless by a fire which tore through a bungalow and mobile home in north Norfolk.
View of the damage from a neighbour's garden. Pictures: David Bale - Credit: Archant
No-one was hurt but the family living in the properties lost all their possessions and are living in a hotel and with relatives.
Luke Lee-Smith, 42, who lived in the bungalow in Cromer Road, Trimingham, with his wife Helen and their three children, Justin, 14, Gabriel, eight, and Lollie, six, has spoken for the first time about the incident.
His mother and stepfather lived in the mobile home on the site.
Mr Lee-Smith, who suffers from mental health issues and does not work, said: "I was in the bungalow and my mum was in the mobile.
Aftermath of Trimingham fire. Pictures: David Bale - Credit: Archant
"I heard an explosion. I went outside and asked mum what had happened, but she did not know.
"All the stuff in my nephew's bedroom in the mobile was flung about.
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"The wall had bowed, and there was an orange fire inside.
"We all got out and called the fire brigade.
Aftermath of Trimingham fire. Pictures: David Bale - Credit: Archant
"We have lost everything. The kids lost their toys and computers.
"But the village has rallied round and given bags of clothes for the kids. Both properties are insured."
The families' two dogs survived the blaze.
Since the fire, Mr Lee-Smith and family have been staying at the Manor Hotel in Mundesley but they are about to move to a Christian retreat in Overstrand, while his mother and stepfather are staying in Bacton with another family member.
Aftermath of Trimingham fire. Pictures: David Bale - Credit: Archant
An investigation into the blaze, to determine the cause, is being carried out by Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service.
The fire also spread to a neighbour's garage.
The owner, who did not wish to be named, said: "My Honda CB550K motorbike, with 22,000 miles on the clock, was destroyed, plus gardening tools that belonged to my family, and are 60 years old.
"It's breaking my heart, but it's nothing compared to what they lost - they lost everything."
View of fire from neighbour's garden. Picture: Contributed - Credit: Archant
Another neighbour likened the sound of the explosion to a shotgun blast.
He said: "They are a lovely little family and they have lost everything."
Black smoke rising from the scene of the blaze in Trimingham in north Norfolk. Picture: SUBMITTED - Credit: Archant
Fire crews at the scene of a blaze in Trimingham, north Norfolk. Picture: DAVID BALE - Credit: Archant
