A couple from Dolgellau have been left with nothing after a devastating house fire destroyed the home they spent more than three decades building together. Glyn Jones, 72, and Susan Jones, 70, escaped with only the clothes they were wearing and their mobile phones after the blaze broke out on June 20.
Fire discovered by chance
Glyn was sitting outside with his back to the garage when he first noticed the smell of smoke. Their son, Gareth, recounted the sequence of events. 'He could smell something burning and assumed it was coming from the kitchen because he knew my mother had put some food on,' Gareth said. 'He went into the house to check and everything seemed fine. He checked the oven and couldn't work out where the smell was coming from.'
When Glyn returned outside, he realised one of the cars in the garage was on fire. 'He looked towards the garage and that's when he saw that one of the cars was on fire and it was spreading to another one,' Gareth shared. 'When both cars were on fire, it ignited the garage, which slowly spread to the house via the carport between the two.'
Escape and injuries
Initially, Glyn believed the fire could be contained before it reached the house. He attempted to use a fire extinguisher but the flames were too intense. Despite the danger, he managed to rescue one vehicle before trying to return for another. 'The flames were so intense they singed the hair on his head and pushed him back,' Gareth continued. 'The smoke was really thick and he inhaled it. Afterwards he had to go to hospital in Aberystwyth for oxygen because he developed a bad headache and tightness in his chest.'
Meanwhile, Susan ran back into the house to call 999 after seeing the flames. Glyn also tried to phone emergency services but struggled because his mobile phone was connected to one of the cars via Bluetooth. A young boy walking nearby spotted the fire and ran home to alert his father, who also called the fire service.
Firefighting challenges due to rural location
When firefighters arrived, the blaze was still confined to the garage and the family were waiting outside. However, the rural location of the property created significant challenges. 'There was no mains water supply near enough for the fire engines to tap into,' Gareth explained. 'Eventually they ran out of water and had to go to an estate further down the road, but there wasn't enough pressure there to pump water up the hill. They then had to go all the way to the bottom of the hill to pump water back up, which caused a delay.'
During that time, the fire spread from the garage into the house. 'They didn't know it had spread at the time. Otherwise they would have gone back in to rescue some things. My dad had a safe with cash and important paperwork. My mum had jewellery and family photographs. Everyone assumed the fire brigade would save the house and they would only lose the garage and the cars.' Instead, the family lost almost everything.
Total loss of belongings
Also living at the property were Gareth's sister, 33-year-old Anwen Jones, and her partner, who had been saving for a deposit to buy their own home. They also lost all of their belongings, including Anwen's BMW, which had been freshly polished the day before for a car show. Another of Gareth's sisters, who was staying at the property, also lost her car in the fire.
Gareth, who now lives in Cheshire, received the call while watching a film. 'My dad rang to say the garage was on fire. From what I understand, from the time he saw smoke coming from underneath the roof slates to the entire roof being on fire was about 10 minutes. The house was built around 30 years ago and the felt underneath the slates was the older tar-based type. The fire spread incredibly quickly along it.'
Five classic cars were destroyed in the garage, including an Audi A4 Avant S-Line, a BMW 3.0 CSL, a Ford Capri, a Rover SD1 Twin Plenum and a Triumph Stag. 'There was one car my dad absolutely loved - the BMW CSL,' Gareth said. 'People had offered him more than market value for it over the years but he always turned them down because it was unique. There were only around 500 made in the 1970s. We'd travelled to France and Belgium in it. He's absolutely devastated to have lost it.'
Irreplaceable memories lost
For Susan, the greatest loss is irreplaceable family memories. 'She's most upset about her jewellery because a lot of it had been passed down from her mother, my nain, who had died a long time ago. Then there were gifts we'd bought her for birthdays and Christmases over the years. One wall in the house was covered in family photographs. Some exist digitally but the older ones, including school photos of me and my sisters, are gone forever.' She also lost collections she had built over many years, including spoons, thimbles, and a huge collection of wool for knitting.
When Gareth returned to Dolgellau the following day, the reality of the destruction was overwhelming. 'I'd seen photographs my father and sister had sent me but I still wasn't prepared,' he admitted. 'Standing at the top of the drive was surreal. One wall on the far gable end was still standing and part of the back wall was wobbling. Everything else had gone. There was just piles of debris, ash and twisted metal throughout the house that you couldn't even recognise.'
Housing challenges and community support
The family initially stayed with one of Gareth's sisters, but the accommodation was too small for everyone. Since then they have been moving between a lodge and a caravan in the area while trying to find something more suitable. Due to the area being tourist-driven, accommodation has proven sparse and expensive during the summer months. 'My parents are in their seventies. They didn't want to be moving every week from one place to another, but that's what was happening because properties were already booked.'
The family expects rebuilding the home could take between 12 and 18 months and hopes to eventually place a caravan on the site so Glyn and Susan can oversee the work. 'They want the house rebuilt exactly as it was, brick for brick.'
A local resident launched a GoFundMe campaign to support the family. Funds raised will help cover immediate essentials including clothing, toiletries, food and temporary accommodation, while also supporting the long process of rebuilding. So far it has raised over £2,000.
Emotional and physical toll
According to Gareth, the emotional toll has affected their health. 'My mum's blood pressure went through the roof afterwards, while my dad had an upset stomach for more than a week. I don't think it's done either of them any good. We are there for them, but it's a long road ahead.'
In a statement, the couple said: 'We have been overwhelmed by the kindness and generosity shown to us by our family, friends and the wider community. At a time when we've lost so much, the messages of support and donations have meant more to us than we can put into words. We are incredibly grateful to everyone who has helped us begin rebuilding our lives.'
