// BBC UK NEWS — CRONACA
Devastating fire left family with only gerbils
Paul Stephens was sunbathing in his garden when the devastating fire destroyed his family home
When Paul Stephens looks back at the day a fire destroyed his home, he remembers the speed at which everything changed.
He was in his garden sunbathing when flames started spreading towards his house on Gorleston Road in Warstock, Birmingham, on 13 August.
"I was sunbathing in the garden… I could see the smoke… it was about 30‑odd houses away and it just took over. We were hearing people shout, 'Wet your fences, wet your fences'… but there was nothing you could do," Stephens said.
What had started near a park, where overgrown grass and scrubland enabled the fire spread, had quickly travelled through 35 gardens.
"We've lived there for 30 years… and just everything's gone."
In the space of a few hours, the family had lost almost everything they owned.
Among the things destroyed were wedding memorabilia, electronics, clothes and the everyday belongings that had made the house a home.
"It was the kids' childhood home growing up, and everything's gone."
The family are staying in temporary Airbnb accommodation