A deaf couple escaped their home as flames and smoke swept through the property after being alerted by their pet dogs.
Gareth and Leanne Young were watching TV and video-calling a friend in their living room at around 11.55am on Monday, January 31, when they saw their three chihuahuas Molly, Roxy and Amy barking and jumping.
As this would usually mean someone was at the front door of the home on Cunningham Road in Widnes, Gareth went to check but no-one was there.
READ MORE: Dad killed in Storm Malik motorway crash as family pay tribute
Speaking using sign language via Leanne’s sisters Paula Bignell and Alysha Buckley, Gareth told the ECHO he went back and sat down for a couple of minutes but the barking continued so he returned to the hallway where he saw smoke billowing from the rear of the property.
Although he could hear the faint sound of an alarm ringing, his impaired hearing meant he was unable to identify what it was.
After getting Leanne out of the house and bringing the dogs out, he saw two of them run back inside in fear.
Gareth turned back and headed into the house to grab the dogs before joining Leanne and neighbours who had come to help.
The couple believe the quick-thinking of residents Sean Campbell and Jed Sawyers, who grabbed hoses and were already spraying water at the flames before the fire service arrived, might have made the difference in stopping the fire from destroying their home.
Leanne was taken to hospital with smoke inhalation as medics wanted to monitor her blood pressure and later discharged last night.
The couple, aged 27 and 33, have shared pictures of the fire and the damage showing charred and smoke-stained walls, smashed windows, and a gutted kitchen.
The couple have now been put up in a hotel.
A Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service spokeswoman told the ECHO the blaze is thought to have started in an outbuilding and spread to the house, adding the cause is believed to have been “suspicious”.
Despite the relief at escaping uninjured, the couple’s clothes and other possessions including items of irreplaceable sentimental value that belonged to Leanne’s later mother Janet were ruined.
They are now being supported by their wider family including sisters, Leanne’s father, and cousin Jessica Jackson who has launched a gofundme appeal.
In the appeal, Jessica said: “Yesterday, someone set fire to my cousin’s Leanne Young and husband Gareth’s house.
“As they are both deaf they did not hear the smoke alarms and unfortunately the fire spread throughout their home taking all their belongings with it.
“All they have is the clothes they had on at the time.
“Leanne was taken to hospital and treated due to inhaling the smoke.
“Thankfully, Leanne, Gareth and their three little dogs are alive.
“I’ve created this account to try and help ease the burden financially.
“If anyone could help in the smallest way we would be most grateful.”
Paula added: “For Sean and Jed the family are so grateful to them.
“If it wasn’t for them, the house would be gone completely.”
Leanne told the ECHO: "Yesterday was one of the hardest days of our lives.
"Someone set fire to our home. As people know, me and Gareth are both deaf and did not hear the smoke alarms.
"Me, Gareth and our three dogs made it out, but we have lost everything in our home. We are absolutely heartbroken."
Cheshire fire service reported three appliances - two from Runcorn and one from Penketh - attended and four crew in breathing apparatus extinguished the flames.
A brigade spokesperson said: “All occupants of the house were accounted for.
“One woman suffering from smoke inhalation was checked over by paramedics.
“Firefighters checked neighbouring properties for fire spread and ventilated the property.
“The electricity and gas supply to the property was isolated while the crews damped down the scene.”
Receive newsletters with the latest news, sport and what's on updates from the Liverpool ECHO by signing up here
