A woman who lost everything in a devastating fire on Christmas Eve has her rescue dog Dobby to thank for still being alive.

Emma Churchill was left with nothing but the pyjamas she was wearing and her beloved pet after a blaze ripped through her static caravan.

The 34-year-old, who had been living on her father’s drive in Neal Road, West Kingsdown, explained there is nothing left of her home apart from its metal axles.

She said: “It was just a normal evening. We were all looking forward to Christmas, especially as I didn't celebrate in 2022 because I was made homeless after issues with my Universal Credit allowance.

“This year I got myself a little Christmas tree, put all my decorations up and presents under the tree and I thought this is going to be a really good Christmas, we're going to make up for last year.

“I went to bed as normal at 1am and the dog woke me up at about 2am.

“Dobby was really whining, which he normally doesn't do, he was pacing up and down the bed.

“I thought maybe he's heard a cat or a dog and it's set him off. So I was telling him to be quiet, but he was really going for it.”

Emma got her pooch in 2018 from Spain.

He was a rescue dog had no nails, was underweight, and had many scars on his body. The pair have been inseparable since.

Emma continued: “As I started to wake up more I could hear what I thought was really heavy raindrops, and I was boiling hot which is unusual as statics are known for being cold.

“I went to turn the light on and realised there was no electricity and then I started to smell burning plastic.

“I thought ‘God, what is going on?’ and went to go my bathroom to look outside through the window and as soon as I opened the bathroom door there was an orange glow. I stuck my head out the window and everything to the right-hand side of the caravan was alight.”

Emma rang 999 immediately and grabbed her shoes, a dressing gown, and Dobby before rushing outside.

“The flames were massive,” she continued.

“The smoke was so thick and strong and there were embers from the fire flying everywhere. The shed around the back of my dad’s house was also on fire.

“I had all my animals, two rabbits, two bunnies, and two guinea pigs in there and all I could think was that they were burning.”

By now Emma’s mobile home, two sheds, a garage, a car, and fencing near her dad’s home were alight.

She banged on her dad’s window and got him, her step-mum, and their dog out of the house.

Emma continued: “The flames were so high. Fire crews turned up in about 10 minutes, but honestly, it felt like hours.

“Those static caravans only take about 10 minutes until they're burnt down to the axles, and by that point mine had.

“I wasn't sure how bad the garage had been damaged at this point. I knew the shed was gone with the animals because that was the first thing I saw.

“I was hoping the garage, which was home to my dad’s classic car, would be okay, because, unlike the shed it was brick-built. I was praying that the car would be alright.

“Only one fire crew turned up initially and at the time I didn't realise that they have to prioritise the surrounding houses.

“Because of this they let the caravan carry on burning and started hosing down all the neighbor's properties to stop it spreading to the houses.

“Gradually more and more fire engines turned up. There were five, by the end of it.”

Not only had Emma’s static home and pet shed been burnt to the ground but her dad’s garage and car had also been destroyed.

She said: “I was literally left with what I was wearing, which was my pyjamas, my dressing gown and a pair of Ugg boots.

“I wasn't wearing underwear, or socks. I left with the dog and my phone, and that was only because I was on call to 999.

“In my head, when I first saw the flames, I don't think I realised how big or how quickly it was going to spread.

“I thought they'd put the fire out and there might be a bit of damage, but I could go in later and get all my bits, see what I could salvage, but the whole lot was gone. Everything was ash.

“It was thanks to Dobby that I woke up. He's been just an amazing little dog.

“He's so lovely, so sweet and I never thought in a million years that he'd wake me up to a fire.

“If it wasn't for him I don't know what would have happened.”

Emma is currently staying on a friend’s sofa and explained that at the time of the fire she was thinking about the material things, such as her clothes, Christmas presents, and jewellery, that she’d lost.

However, it wasn’t until everything calmed down that she realisied just how dire her situation was.

She said: “My car keys went up, all my medication, my driving licence, ID, birth certificate, car logbook, bank cards, I literally have to try and start from scratch.

“I'm never gonna get back what I lost. I’m just trying to replace the essentials.

“I still managed to have Christmas day with my family, we went back to my dad’s after the fire, but it was a bit of a rubbish one.”

Emma’s sister, Claire, set up a GoFundMe Page to help raise funds so her sibling can get back on her feet.

If you would like to donate visit here.

The fire service confirmed they were called and were at the scene from 2.09am until 4.14am.

A spokesman said: “There were no reported injuries, and the cause of the fire has been linked to an extension lead.”