NI family's quick escape as 'home is destroyed' in devastating house fire

A Co Armagh family had a lucky escape before their home was destroyed in a house fire caused by a faulty shower fuse.

Paula Reynolds had just got into the bath after giving her children a shower on Tuesday, November 12, when she noticed smoke coming through her bathroom window before hearing cries from her son that his bedroom roof was cracking.

She quickly jumped out of the bath, grabbed a gown and shouted for her children to quickly get out of the house with their pets and anything they could get their hands while husband Mark rang the fire service.

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They then stood outside while the fire tore through the roof of their home as they waited for the firefighters to arrive and deal with the blaze.

To make matters worse for the family, the water tank in the attic burst causing severe water damage to everything in the house that was not already impacted by the fire.

It was later revealed that a faulty fuse connected to their shower in the attic had caused the fire, with Paula saying that she is just thankful that her family made it out alive.

Speaking to Belfast Live Paula said: "We had got into the house at about 8.30pm and we all went to have showers to get ready for the next day, but after my children had finished theirs the water had suddenly gone cold on me.

"I didn't think much of it at the time so I ran myself a bath and as soon as I got into it I noticed smoke billowing through the bathroom window and seconds later I heard my son shouting that his bedroom roof was cracking.

"I quickly jumped out of the bath and shouted for everyone to get out of the house as quickly as possible, with us grabbing out pets and anything we might need on the way out of the door.

"I am just thankful that the fire happened when it did, because if we were asleep at the time I fear we would not have made it out alive.

"But now our home has been completely destroyed and we feel completely lost. We are just grateful that we have family who are able to give us a room, help and support.

In another blow to the Reynolds family, there house was not insured for fire damage and they are now left covering the costs of the repairs themselves.

Paula continued: "It is heartbreaking for us that our home was not insured and everywhere we are turning to to try and find help are telling us there is nothing they can do.

"We are trying to do all that we can to get the money together to at least cover our roof and avoid any further damage, but this is tough in the run up to Christmas."

A friend of the Reynolds family, Connie Boylan, has set up a Gofundme page to help raise funds for the family to repair their home, which has since raised over £1,500.

If you would like to donate to the fundraising appeal you can do so via this link.

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