Council issues statement after fire rips through Preston street leaving Ukrainian family and others homeless
The huge blaze is believed to have started in one of the neighbour’s sheds.
A spokesperson for Preston City Council has said they are liaising with families who have been left distraught after a huge fire spread from a neighbour’s shed has left them homeless.
Fire and water damage left four homes in Greendale Mews, off West Park Avenue in Ashton, Preston, uninhabitable after the blaze gripped hold last Friday lunchtime.
Firefighters arrived and evacuated the row of houses.
A Lancashire Fire and Rescue spokesperson said: “At 12:28 hours on 17 July 2026, Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service was called to reports of a domestic building fire on Greendale Mews, Preston, secondary to a controlled burn in a garden.
Five fire engines and one aerial appliance attended. The fire involved the roof space of a terraced property and was extinguished by firefighters using two breathing apparatus. Fire crews remained on scene.”
One of the families - the Yantsiuk family who fled to the UK to escape missiles in the Ukraine war, now face a different predicament and are appealing for help to find alternative accommodation for themselves and their two young daughters, aged four and eight.
Bohdan Yantsiuk told the Lancashire Post: “It’s bad, we feel so bad, and we don’t know what to do. We really need to find a house quickly. Anywhere in the area - but we really need to be back in Ashton before the next school term starts as my youngest also starts school at Ashton Primary in September. I’ve had to take time off work for the family, the kids. I need to work and we need help.”
A Preston City Council spokesperson said: “Details of the plight of the families affected by the fire came to us over the weekend.
“We understand immediate accommodation arrangements were put into place.
“Our team have attempted to make contact with the family so we can carry out a homeless assessment and offer all the support we can.”
They added: “In the meantime, our team has been contacted by a representative of the family, and they have been given advice about approaching us to support them with making a homeless application.”
Lancashire Police have been approached for comment on whether they are investigating or not.
If you can help the Yantsiuk’s with available accommodation please email [email protected]