Family recall their miraculous escape when a fire ripped through their home in Harborough

A Harborough family had a miraculous escape when a fire ripped through their home in the early hours of Easter Monday.

Bonnie Chamberlain, 39, three other adults and three children escaped unhurt after the fierce blaze erupted at their bungalow in Shropshire Place, off Burnmill Road, at about 1am.

Totally-disabled Bonnie has become famous in her own right for going to see Bon Jovi almost 200 times – becoming a great friend of the American rock star.

The devastating freak fire at her three-bedroom detached property is believed to have been sparked by an overheating computer router.

Bonnie’s partner Paul Barber, 47, said her brother Joe Gant, 34, her carer Kerry Reed, 43, her sons Tobias, 11, and Caelum, 16, and his daughter Lilly, 11, were all seriously shaken up but otherwise uninjured.

And they also managed to rescue their two petrified dogs, Tank, a Staffordshire bull terrier, and Jessie, a Bichon Frise cross.

Stunned Paul told the Harborough Mail: “We could all have easily died in there.

“Thank goodness we had a fire alarm which helped to alert us and save us.

“It doesn’t bear thinking about what might have happened if the detector hadn’t gone off.”

Speaking as the devastated family battled to clean up the soul-destroying mess, the shocked dad-of-two added: “I’m going to put fire alarms in every room now.

“They are definite life-savers – and they certainly helped to save our lives.”

Paul said he was outside carrying out repairs on their motorhome on the drive when the terrifying drama suddenly blew up in pitch-black darkness.

“I heard screaming coming from the house.

“I ran out towards our bedroom where me and Bonnie sleep because that’s where the fire started,” said the carpenter and artist.

“I was scared stiff because I immediately thought she was in there as the fire took hold.

“Luckily Bonnie, who has cerebral palsy and is in a wheelchair, was OK because she’d been just about to go to bed.

“She is cared for day and night and her carer Kerry was just going to prepare her bed for her.

“The fire alarm suddenly went off and Kerry opened our bedroom door to find four-foot high flames leaping up in the air.

“The fire brigade think that a computer router near our bed overheated and set fire to paper lying next to it.

“If the blaze had broken out just minutes later Bonnie would probably have been in bed – and she could have died there and then.”

Quick-thinking Paul grabbed a fire extinguisher and bravely tackled the mini-inferno himself.

“I made sure first that we’d got everyone out of the place and we were all safe.

“Lilly was upstairs in bed while Tobias was in bed too.

“Caelum was playing in the games room in the summerhouse in the garden,” he said.

“Bonnie’s brother Joe was asleep upstairs.

“So I knew we were all out of the bungalow when I had a go at the fire myself.

“I squirted powder from the extinguisher through the window – it was so hot and the flames were horrendous.

“And the fumes filling the room were so noxious and toxic from the burning plastic, it was horrible.

“We’d all have been suffocated if we’d been trapped in our beds.”

After Kerry called 999 at 1.12am, firefighters raced to the dramatic scene from nearby Fairfield Road fire station and Kibworth.

“Firemen dashed here within 10-15 minutes and were brilliant.

“I put the brakes on the blaze and they quickly brought it under control,” said Paul, a talented guitarist.

“Our bedroom’s been gutted and the whole building severely damaged by smoke and fumes.

“Fortunately Bonnie owns a two-bed detached bungalow next door as well so we were able to stay there.

“We’re contacting our solicitor and insurers to try to get our home repaired and put right as soon as we can.”

He said mega fan Bonnie, who’s lived there 15 years, had loved top US rock band Bon Jovi since she was a teenager.

“She says their music and lyrics inspired her and saved her life.

“Bonnie’s mum fought for years to win her a big medical negligence cash award following her birth,” said Paul.

“And back in 2013 they followed Bon Jovi on tour all over the world having a fantastic time.

“Bonnie must be their biggest superfan – she’s been to almost 200 concerts!

“She’s become very good friends with Jon Bon Jovi and the band and they’ve met up countless times.

“He thinks the world of her.

“Last year I sold one of my abstract paintings to him for $10,000.

“I was thrilled and the money’s helped to buy Bonnie a new wheelchair.

“I hope to sell Jon more of my work in future.

“But for now the only thing that matters is that we are all alive and well after this terrifying fire.

“Homes can be repaired and material things replaced but lives cannot be – they are priceless.”