Hereford family lose everything as fire guts home

Mum Emily Anderson says the family from Belmont are just taking things hour-by-hour as they try to rebuild their lives.

A family have lost everything after a fire in Wyedean Rise, Hereford
Author: James ThomasPublished 1st Jun 2023

A Hereford mum has said her family have lost everything after a fire gutted their beloved home in the city.

Emily Anderson, who is five months pregnant and has a four-year-old son, says nobody was hurt in the blaze, but the house has been severely damaged by the blaze.

Three days on from the bank holiday Monday blaze, she says the situation is just starting to sink in – and the reality is that the family, including her husband and mum, have lost everything.

A crowdfunding page has been set up by her sister-in-law to help with the financial burden of the fire. A staggering £5,840 has already been raised, smashing their £1,000 target.

Mrs Anderson said: "We're pretty much still in shock. We're we're coming to terms. You know, reality has sunk in and unfortunately the reality is that we've lost everything.

"We've got each other. We're really lucky that that we've got that. Not everybody obviously can say that in this situation.

"It's worse than what we thought. Upstairs, obviously we have no roof. You can you can see through the windows and what's left is just like hanging on in there.

"But we've managed to have a quick, a quick look inside and it's downstairs. We didn't think it was that bad as you look through the windows, but actually if you go inside it's it's a lot worse.

"Not only is the smoke and the flames obviously torn about our house, the water damage is just incredible as well."

Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service said fire crews from seven different station tackled the blaze in Wyedean Rise, which is believed to have started from a barbecue.

She added: "It's not a case of taking things day by day. It's literally taking things hour by hour. We are OK.

"My little boy, he's four, he's inquisitive, and we're trying to make it into an adventure for him. But ultimately he's still asking if the roof's gone on his house. He's seen his house on fire, asking if his toys have gone."

She also praised the support her and her family have been given since the fire.

The crowdfunding page can be found here.

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