Our dogs saved our lives after their barks alerted us to blaze in our garden sparked by firework, couple says

Our dogs saved our lives after their barks alerted us to blaze in our garden sparked by firework, couple says Annette Wallace and John Cooke were left devastated after their house was consumed by a ferocious blaze which ignited after a firework landed in their Lancashire garden An elderly couple say their lives were saved by their "manically" barking dogs after a firework exploded in their garden - and sparked a raging inferno that threatened to consume them and their £100,000 home. Annette Wallace, 63, and her 66-year-old partner John Cooke were watching television in their living room in Clayton Brook, in Chorley, Lancashire, when their two Staffordshire Bull Terriers started barking. The pups, Kiko, 6, and Enzo, 5, were so riled up that John was forced to yell for them to stop. But it was only when John looked through the back door window that he saw the two dogs were reacting to the garden, which had been set ablaze. To see more of the stories you love from The Mirror and to find them easily in Google then make us your preferred source. Free and easy-to-do, just click on the link here to find more from The Mirror at the top of your feed. Thanks to their dogs' barking, Annette, a cleaner, and John, a retired valet, were able to flee with both pooches before the flames spread through the garden and ripped into their house. Shocking video captured by the pair showed the property's smouldering interior covered in thick soot. The two believe repairs will cost tens of thousands of pounds, with the interior completely scorched and their furniture badly damaged and charred. Lancashire Police have now launched an arson investigation into the incident, believing it was caused by two men who chucked a lit firework into the older couple's garden. Annette said: "We are so thankful for Kiko and Enzo, as without them we may not be alive. We didn't hear a bang or smell smoke, it was only their barking that alerted us." "The situation is devastating. We have lost everything apart from the clothes on our backs. Tragically, this includes photos and trinkets from the past forty years we have lived there. "I don't know how anyone can be so cruel. We have no idea what we have done to deserve this." Mum-of-two Annette said every room in the house has been damaged in some way, leaving it uninhabitable. They have lost thousands of pounds worth of clothes, technology, and other personal items. But worst of all the couple say all of their irreplaceable photos and keepsakes were destroyed or badly damaged. Neighbours called for Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service at around 7.50 pm on Saturday, November 7, which arrived at the scene "within 5 minutes", according to Annette. A spokesperson said: "Two fire engines from Lancashire Fire & Rescue Service attended the scene of the fire following an emergency call at 7.49 pm on Saturday. "They used breathing apparatus and one hose reel jet to extinguish the fire." Annette said the fire was put out by around 9 pm. But firefighters spent until 1 am clearing smoke. Lancashire Police subsequently launched an investigation and said it had been reported that two males may have purposefully set the house on fire. A spokesperson said: "At 8.57 pm on Saturday 7th November we were called by the fire service to reports of an arson on Woodfield, Clayton Brook." "It was reported that two males threw a lit firework into the back garden of a property. Emergency services, including our officers, attended to find a fence on fire. Our colleagues at Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service (LFRS) put the fire out. Fortunately, no one was injured in the incident. An investigation is underway and enquiries are ongoing." A spokesperson for the fire service added: "The fire is believed to have been caused by a firework. However, police investigations remain ongoing and the circumstances have not yet been confirmed." The couple's property was owned by social housing association Places for People, meaning they will not need to pay for the clean-up or refurbishment. But Annette says extensive works need to be done, including a deep clean to remove soot and the smell of smoke. She said: "We have been told the ceilings will need to come down and be replaced. The carpets will need replacing. A new kitchen will need to be fitted as well as the whole house being rewired. It will be a huge job." The couple are currently living in a motor home until a new house can be found for them to live in. They are currently crowdfunding to purchase clothes and food while they get back on their feet. Annette's daughter-in-law, Katie Wallace, 37, said she expects them to have to wait between six and 12 months until they can move back in. A spokesperson for Places for People said: "We are really saddened by this devastating incident and our thoughts are very much with the couple at what must be an incredibly difficult and distressing time. "We're in close contact with them and doing everything we can to provide immediate support, including temporary accommodation and longer-term housing options, as well as additional financial assistance. "We will continue to work closely with them to make sure they have the support they need." Police have urged witnesses or anyone who may have CCTV or doorbell footage to contact them.