Yesterday The Sun Online revealed that the 40-year-old’s £2million mansion had been damaged by a fired in her five-year-old son’s bedroom.
Now sources have revealed the cause of the fire is down to the candles, which cash-strapped Katie, who is facing bankruptcy, has turned to – even in her little ones’ room.
An insider told The Sun Online: “The fire started from her using candles to save on electricity. She’s been telling people it’s for ambience and since coming back from Spain she’s become more bohemian. But it’s because she can’t afford her electricity bill!”
The star has been unable to afford her usual Jo Malone candles so has turned to cheaper ones instead.
The source continued: “She’d bought cheap scented candles for her house in a bid to save money on lights and mask the smell of animals – cat wee to be precise.
“Katie has been following moneysavingexpert on Twitter and reading all of his tips and tricks to save where possible.
“So she spent £100 on candles for all her rooms, each one with an average burning time of eight hours so she was well chuffed with her first step to saving… until it went very badly wrong.”
The fire started in Jett’s room, which is located on the first floor, but fortunately her stepdad Paul was in the house and managed to contain it before it spread throughout the house.
The source added: “She didn’t cut the wick back as suggested on the candle when it gets too long and a spark flew out of the candle and caught a rug alight in Jett’s room. Her stepdad put it out with an extinguisher.
“It’s an absolute mess as now her house is valued a quarter of million less than it was last week and she’s not got the funds to repair the damage!”
The fire is the latest disaster for Katie – whose life seems to have crumbled since the start of the year as her marriage to Kieran Hayler failed and her mum Amy was diagnosed with a terminal lung disease.
She's also facing bankruptcy when she goes back to court on October 30 after she was given 12 weeks to come up with a plan to pay her debts.
Earlier this month, Katie hit another low as she was caught on camera rapping about cocaine and partying next to a bag of drugs on a table top at a wild bash in Majorca following her split from boyfriend Kris Boyson.
The Sun Online has contacted Katie's rep for comment.
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