We saw the elderly couple coming back to the burned-out house last week to collect a few bits and pieces.(The fire brigade had presumably made the building safe) so we went across and gave them a hug. The poor lady burst into tears, and I'm afraid I did too. She said they were now in a rented 'holiday cottage' a couple of villages away, and it was very nice. They 'might' be back home by Christmas.

Apparently the Police CSI people had asked them if they had any enemies, so I assume arson may have been suspected. However they haven't any enemies at all, they're lovely old folk.

The other house affected has had to have all the garden earth removed to quite a depth by diggers as it's contaminated with kerosene. And the melted window frames will have to be replaced, plus the damaged roof where the fire fighters broke the tiles to check for fire in their house.   
The house looks so forlorn, with a large plastic sheet secured, and piles of charred and sodden roof insulation in the garden.
What touched me the most and brought more tears was when the old lady told me at least she had saved a little cross-stitch sampler her daughter had made for her years ago. She said she couldn't have borne to lose it to the flames. Feel so sad for them - they looked older than ever somehow.