Children donating pocket money to help families whose houses burnt down
Sixteen crews were sent to Low Street in Bardwell, Suffolk, where they also faced a burst water pipe
Last updated 23rd Apr 2025
Residents in Bardwell have faced fire and flood, causing families to lose their homes
"It's unimaginable...it's a disastrous time"
Five cottages have been destroyed at Low Street, Bardwell in Suffolk, following a fire that broke out.
Residents and their pets, including a pet pig safely evacuated and found temporary housing with friends and family, or at the local pub.
We spoke to Chairman of Bardwell Parish Council, David Ruffles, about how it all unfolded.
He told us it the fire started and emergency services were alerted around 6:43 BST on Saturday. "became very clear that the fire service, despite their best efforts, were struggling to save any of the properties.
"It was almost like we were being attacked on two fronts"
But this wasn't the only issue they faced. At the same time a water pipe burst up the hill and was travelling towards them.
"Firefighters were desperately trying to put it (the fire) out, but what didn't help was we had a burst mains water pipe at the end of the road...bring rubble, tarmac and god knows what.
"They (the community) managed to make a temporary damn whilst waiting for Anglian Water to turn up.
"But their main problem was they couldn't turn the water off without isolating it somewhere else because they were worried that if they turned the water off, it would starve the fire service of water. Luckily, they were able to isolate it.
"The fire service eventually got the fire under control around 11:45 at night, some six, seven hours since arriving on the scene - there was extensive damage, luckily no one was injured.
"UK power had to get out here to disconnect the electricity beause of the fire risk, the gas board had to emergency dig the road up to isolate various properties. The emergency services did the best they could."
We asked David how the residents were doing now.
He said:
"Because of how severe the fire was had very little recovered, some of them have literally just been left with the clothes they were wearing at the time, so they don't have clean clothes or underwear or anything like that.
"...I think there's a sense of numbness over the village at the moment, it's subdued to say the least."
"Children have been donating their pocket money"
After the fire, David got involved in an emergency Parish Councillor meeting, where they decided to create a fundraising page to help support the victims.
As of the 23rd of April, over £15,000 has been raised
David told us it's a "terrific response" and what they plan to do with the money.
"We've even seen children donating their pocket money to help."
"Were going to be releaseing some of the money to the victims hopefully within a day or so, so they can go out and buy esstentials.
"We have no desire to hold onto the money, its money intended to them, and as soon as we can get it out of the account we will distripute it to peoples bank accounts.
"This will be able to help them in the meantime...we expect the rebuilding, it could run into a few years and we expect the properties to be demolished."
He also told us they will be hosting a village fundraising event on Saturday the 10th of May.