Calcot fire: Reading victim speaks out after 'manic' blaze

Rhian Saban rushed her three young children from their home in Red Cottage Drive as a car fire spread to five properties on July 28, she told the Chronicle.

Her attic, bathroom and part of one child’s bedroom have been burnt, but she does not know the extent of the damage as she is not yet permitted to return home.

“It all happened very fast. It’s quite scary how quickly it went,” said Ms Saban, who has lived at the property for five years.

“It was a bit manic because everybody was out there and there wasn’t really a lot that we could do.”

READ MORE: Calcot fire damages nine homes as victims unable to return

Ms Saban said she had just gone to bed when she heard a loud bang at around 11.30pm.

She suspected it was her child jumping from his bunkbed, but when her partner looked out the window he saw a car engulfed in bright orange flames. This spread to other vehicles and then the terraced buildings, said Ms Saban.

Five homes damaged by a fire in Red Cottage Drive. The occupants of nine properties have not been permitted to return home while assessments are carried out

Red Cottage drive, which contains dozens of homes, many housing families, was evacuated and Calcot Infants School was turned into a triage centre by West Berkshire Council.

Ms Saban and her neighbours sat watching the fire until 9.30am, while a friend looked after her children, aged six, seven and 12.

READ MORE: Photos show devastation left by fire

“I’m quite a strong person so I don’t get affected too much, but I saw a lot of people crying.

“I feel it could have been a whole lot worse than what it was – obviously everybody got out, there were no major injuries.”

She added: “Had it been a little bit later we would have all been asleep, and it could have quite possibly been a different story.”

After the fire, a 17-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of arson and released under investigation.

Thames Valley Police also arrested a woman from Reading on suspicion of perverting the course of justice. She has been bailed until August 31, 2022.

After the fire 

Ms Saban and her children have been moving between friends and relatives for the last fortnight while assessments are carried out on the damaged properties by their owners, One Housing.

“It’s very stressful. Especially during summer holidays as well. Having to buy new stuff because everything’s at home and we’ve not been allowed back into the houses.”

One Housing, which own the homes on Red Cottage Drive, offered Ms Saban and her family places to stay in a hotel.

She declined because her family would have been in two separate rooms and they were on the 11th floor, which was not suitable for her dog, saying “after everything that’s happened I want my children with me.”

When the fire hit, Ms Saban had just finished decorating and furnishing her bedroom, having spent two years sleeping on the sofa while she prioritized making her children’s rooms suitable.

Donations made to the victims at the triage centre were ‘overwhelming’, according to the council, and a GoFundMe page has been set up by a friend of Ms Saban.

“Thanks to everybody who has donated or asked if we are okay or offered help if we need it. There’s too many people to mention anyone specifically.”

She also thanked One Housing for proving consistent and timely payments for food.