A Salford family has been left devastated after a fire destroyed their home and possessions. Emergency services were called to a blaze on Elm Tree Road at around 7:30 PM on Friday, May 29. The property was home to a family of four who had lived in the neighborhood for eight years: mother Karen Fletcher, her sons Ben and Aaron Fletcher (both diagnosed with autism), and her eldest daughter Emily Ritson.
Running turned to tragedy
Avid runners Ben, 28, and Emily, 46, were out for a jog when Emily received a call from Karen about the fire. They rushed home to find the scene of devastation. Emily recalled: 'We sped home and when we got home we could see the fire engines there and all the neighbors were looking after my mum and Aaron. It was a bit of a shock. On the ride home I was trying to prepare Ben, explaining to him what we might see.' She added: 'There were three fire engines there, so I was quite shocked. I didn't take much in at the time because I was trying to make sure that Ben was alright.'
Total loss
The fire completely destroyed Ben's room and damaged the entire house. The family has been told they cannot return for six months. A salvage team assessed the property but said there was nothing to save. Emily stated: 'They wouldn't take anything to salvage. We all left the house in the clothes we had on and an outfit from Red Cross.' The fire is believed to have been caused by a faulty socket in Ben's room.
Impact on Ben
According to Emily, the ordeal has hit Ben the hardest. He lost his extensive collection of toys, DVDs, and books, which were crucial for his well-being. She explained: 'They're more than possessions to him. They help him deal with real life, they help him stay calm. They're something really predictable for him. He used to go to his bedroom whenever he needed to recharge or regulate. Losing them for him was massive. It was like his safety blanket to the world got taken away from him. He lost everything.'
Community support and fundraiser
Emily has set up a fundraiser to help replace some of the items as the family rebuilds their lives. She praised the Salford community's support, especially the running community she built on Instagram while documenting Ben's weight loss journey. 'We're a big part of the running community and I share Ben's story on Instagram. He used to be 17 stone, and running has completely changed him. People followed that journey and somebody from Instagram has sent a massive box with running shoes and running outfits. That really helped us. People out there are being really kind to us,' she said.
Fire service statement
A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) said: 'At just before 7:30 PM (Friday 29 May) fire crews were called to reports of a fire at a domestic property on Elm Tree Road in Salford. Three fire engines from Salford and Broughton fire stations attended the incident, involving a fire on the first floor bedroom. Crews used four breathing apparatus and two hose reel jets to extinguish the fire. Firefighters were in attendance for one hour and forty minutes.'
