House destroyed by fire after electric scooter explodes

A family has been left devastated after a fire tore through their home in the early hours of Friday morning. Matthew Buckler, his wife and their four children woke up just after midnight to an exploded electric scooter which he says has completely ruined every single room in their Dinas Powys home.

Pictures from the scene, on Caerphilly Close near Eastbrook Station, show the scale of the damage caused to the end-of-terrace property, with part of the roof caved in, the front door boarded up, and windows covered in thick soot.

Matthew said: "We woke up at about midnight, the electric scooter had exploded in the hallway and within eight minutes the house was ablaze.

"Some of us got out, the others had to go through the window. My daughter has done the ligaments in her ankle from when she jumped off the roof. 

He added: "The house is written off, every single room gone. Including the roof which caved in."

The family-of-six had lived in their Dinas Powys house for eight years before the devastating fire took hold. Having spent several hours in hospital being checked over on Friday morning, they are now staying with family until they figure out what comes next.

A spokesperson for South Wales Fire and Rescue Service said: "We received a call at approximately 12.09am on Friday, January 9, to reports of a domestic fire at Caerphilly Close in Dinas Powys.

"Crews and appliances from Penarth, Cardiff Central and Barry attended the scene of a well alight fire in an end-of-terrace property.

"All occupants were evacuated prior to the arrival of crews. The fire was extinguished using four breathing apparatus, two 45mm jets, and a triple extension ladder. The fire was accidental, caused by a lithium-ion battery.

The spokesperson added that crews were at the scene for around four hours, leaving the area shortly after 4am on Friday.

In response to the fire, a GoFundMe page with a target of £3,500 has been set up to help get the Buckler family.

Writing on the page on behalf of her parents and siblings, Chelsea Ann Buckler wrote: "My family has experienced a devastating loss after a house fire destroyed their home and all their belongings. This tragedy has left us all in shock and struggling to find our footing.

"I am reaching out to ask for your support during this incredibly difficult time. Any contribution, no matter how small, can help us rebuild our lives."