Wembley family home destroyed in suspected firework blaze

A family has launched an appeal for donations after their home in Wembley was destroyed by a fire on November 1. Zoya Sheikh, 25, was at home with her family when the blaze began spreading through the property. She described seeing the roof of her family home of 17 years explode.

The family believes a firework landing on the roof may have sparked the fire. Zoya Sheikh told MyLondon that while the cause is under investigation by the London Fire Brigade, they suspect a rogue firework. She stated that nothing has been officially confirmed and it could be a short circuit, but added, "If it is the case [that it was fireworks], people should be mindful and not point them at someone's house. We could've died."

Around 40 firefighters and six fire engines were deployed to tackle the fire. Zoya Sheikh said her family had seconds to escape the property after a neighbour alerted them to flames. She added that her family did not have home insurance and believes they would have died if they had not left the house in time.

The family has since started a fundraising page to help rebuild their home. Zoya's sister, Sabiha Sheikh, 26, also issued a warning about the dangers of fireworks, stating, "Fireworks are very dangerous. People need to be more careful and pick up their fireworks. My whole family could've died. Someone's careless actions nearly killed my family."

The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the London Fire Brigade. The family has been displaced and is seeking community support to recover from the extensive damage.