Remoulding life to suit home.
English Fire and rescue services on general last year, had around 528,700 incidents, 31% of them being fire related. Of this 162,000 fires, (31%) only 31,333 of these fires were Primary dwelling fires, averaging out as 85 fires per day. A primary fire is distinguished as; more serious fires that harm people or cause damage to property.
On Sunday 13th of November 2016 at six o'clock in the morning, my family had a first hand experience of what the government defines as a primary dwelling fire becoming on of those 85 fires that day. Initially, the fire which started from our primary source of heating, the inglenook fireplace; which spat out in the early hours. Taking a long period of time of smouldering to finally catch the television and outer wall. Spreading through the walls and floorboards to my bedroom above. Damaging our home through flames, then more severely through smoke damage.
By 7 o'clock every inch of the house was black with soot, a blackness that seemed endless, as a family we couldn't move out due to our animals, my parents working from home, and fear of theft if we did leave. So we lived in a pitch-black house without electricity, with a few holes spotted around the walls and floorboards for three weeks waiting for the insurance company to take action.
This photo story focuses not of then but of how we live now, three and a half months on. How the aftereffects of the fire have taken hold. Showing how we as humans go on to evolve and cope to fit our habitats as well as coping with health problems caused by the fire. My father who’s now recuperating from a heat attack caused by stress from this change. Whilst mum and the cat are suffering the effects of smoke damaged lungs, then the dog living on anti-anxiety tablets. The initial reaction of relief to be alive is passing, with the realisation of whats happened and time it will take to fix to its best. Processions that held memories and links to our past no longer exist.
Whilst living with a limited source of power, though longer daylight hours to live within. The first clean has taken place, leaving an empty shell of a house with black streaks upon coloured walls, holding only the bare living essentials. Creating the feeling that this shell is no longer home, though holds vital components that relate it to being home. Such as my parents, animals, the shapes of rooms hold that familiarity. From the emptiness it feels like a certain wilderness has taken over home.
