Walsall family's 'forever' home gutted after karaoke machine explodes - £60k online fundraiser launched

Emma and Jon Logan and their four children were out when their new home in Walsall Wood in Aldridge erupted in flames after a karaoke machine operated by chargeable batteries exploded on April 30. It is thought that the toy which was under their 11-year-old daughter's bed in the loft, burst into flames after getting too warm during recent hot weather.

The family's pet dogs were rescued by, but their pet rabbit Bobby who was in the loft, sadly perished.The blaze, which broke out while the entire family was at work or school, destroyed the top floor of the home, and meant wedding photos and life momentos were lost.

Mrs Logan, aged 35, said: "It's just devastating. I'm still feeling numb and we can't comprehend what's  happened to us. To make matters worst as it's been the bank holiday we've not been able to get  much sorted out because everywhere has been closed until today.

"Me and Jon were at work and the children at school when he got a phone call from a neighbour saying the house was on fire."

"Our neighbour ran around when he saw the fire and  managed to save the dogs who were downstairs. I remember seeing on our doorbell footage that loads of people were in front of the house, so popped around to have a look and realised that the fire engine that had passed me was going to my house."

Mr Logan, aged 38, tattoo artist, and Mrs Logan, a special needs classroom assistant, purchased the "forever home" 18 months ago after years of saving.

They along with their daughter's Brooke, aged 11, Scarlett, aged eight, winter, aged six, and Emily, aged three, are currently staying with relatives. 

Now friends of the family have launched an online fundraising appeal to help them replace the roof home after it was discovered their house insurance policy had not automatically renewed, leaving them with no financial protection.

"It's just devastating and it's the kind of thing you never think it's going to happen to you. I mean how do you tell your 11-year-old that everything she has ever owned has been destroyed?

"She's obsessed with rabbits and she had a bunny of her own that she kept in her room which we lost in the fire," Mrs Logan added.

She said she wanted other people to be aware of the potential dangers posed by popular toys.

"You have to plug it in to charge it and it plays. We hadn't used it for well over 12 months the batteries were just inside as normal. They'd just got that hot that it exploded and caused the fire."

A fundraising page set up by Mr Logan's sister Deborah has so far raised  almost £9,000 with the help of almost 300 donors.

In the fundraiser, Deborah described the scene as "utterly devastating" and said the family was "trying to do everything we can to help them recover".

"Jon and Emma have always gone above and beyond for others," she said. "Now they need a bit of kindness in return."

To support the family visit Go Fund Me via  gofundme.com/f/uy793-the-logan-family?