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'I opened the front door and black smoke came out'

Oli Constable/BBC Jessica Drake stands looking at the camera. She has blonde hair and black rimmed glasses stands. Behind her is the blackened remains of a burnt out kitchen.Oli Constable/BBC
Jessica Drake came home to find smoke pouring out of her home

A mother has told of the moment she found her house on fire after returning from a trip to see Father Christmas with her young son.

Jessica Drake saw black smoke billowing out of the property in Thornborough Road, in the Heeley area of Sheffield, on 23 December.

Describing their ordeal as "terrifying", the 36-year-old said her first thoughts were for the family's dog, three kittens, gecko and budgie, who all eventually survived the blaze.

She said: "I opened the front door and loads of black smoke came out. The house was pitch black."

Oli Constable/BBC Burnt out kitchen utensils stand on a blackened kitchen work surfaceOli Constable/BBC
The fire is believed to have started in the kitchen

Ms Drake said she and her son had returned home at about 15:00 GMT, although she was told by firefighters the blaze had probably started between 12:30 GMT and 14:30 GMT.

She said her first thoughts had been for her pets.

"I thought they must be dead. I could barely breathe," she said.

"I grabbed the dog from his crate. He had no lead or collar. [My son] held on to him outside."

She said she then dialled 999 and was advised not to go into the house.

Oli Constable/BBC A kitchen sink with cleaning products are all covered in black sootOli Constable/BBC
Soot has now spread throughout the house and a specialist cleaning team will be required to clean it all up

Once the fire was extinguished, the family's possessions in the house had all been left covered in soot, said Jessica.

While she had insurance to replace the damaged belongings, well-wishers had also now collected more than £3,000 to pay for specialist cleaning costs.

Writing on an online crowfunding page, Jessica's friend, Amy Bottomley, said: "She didn't want me to do this. She's the last person to ask for help.

"Anyone who knows Jess will know what an amazing person she is.

"She is that women who would give you the shirt off her own back if she thought you needed help. It's our turn to show up for her."

Jessica, her son and their pets are now staying with her parents while they wait to hear from Sheffield City Council, which owns the property.

"I'd been here for two years now and just got it to where I wanted it to be," she said.

The BBC has contacted South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue and South Yorkshire Police for comment.

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