A fundraising effort has been launched to support a young family after they lost everything in a “devastating fire” at their Armagh city home.
The fire broke out shortly after 6pm on January 15 at the Umgola Manor home of a young woman and her three children, aged just 8, 5 and 4 years old.
Firefighters were called to reports of a garage on fire that spread to an adjoining semi-detached bungalow at Umgola Manor, Armagh.
Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus battled the blaze using two hose reel jets and a covering jet to extinguish the fire, which was dealt with by 9.50pm.
All members of the family were out of the property by the time of NIFRS’ arrival.
The cause of the fire is believed to be accidental but their house and “nearly everything inside it” was destroyed, including “clothes, cherished belongings, and the memories that made it their home”.
The family are also facing the reality of having to “start over from scratch and being left without a home”.
In an effort to get them back on their feet and restore some normality, the woman’s cousin, Leah, has now launched a GoFundMe page with a target of £2,000 to help replace “material items” that were lost in the blaze.
In the space of a just 24 hours over £4,500 was contributed to the effort.
Adding to the heart-breaking appeal, West Armagh Consortium issued an urgent request for clothes for a boy aged 8 and two girls aged 5 and 4.
Drop off of any items can be made directly to the West Armagh Consortium building located on the Cathedral Road.
They have also been granted permission to take cash donations on behalf of the family and will ensure these are passed on with all other items.
You can donate to the GoFundMe here.
