‘I’m devastated’: Woman’s parents lose home just hours after finishing renovation in West Midlands fire

15 Aug 2026 • 11:05 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

‘I’m devastated’: Woman’s parents lose home just hours after finishing renovation in West Midlands fire

A woman whose family home was destroyed in a West Midlands fire said she is “devastated” for her parents.

Jessica Rowely told the BBC that her parents had just finished renovating their house on Gorleston Road in Warstock, where they had been living for 38 years.

She said that they had just had a wetroom installed “because they knew they were getting older”. The renovation had been completed just four hours before the blaze broke out.

“They pulled in friends to come and help get it done because we're not wealthy people. They're just hardworking, normal people, as is everybody on that road. I'm devastated,” she said.

West Midlands Fire Service has said 19 houses have been "fully destroyed", with an additional 19 suffering extensive fire damage.

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