A local community have rallied together to help a woman who was dragged out of her home after it went up in flames.
On Sunday we told how Tricia Hayes, 64, was woken to one of her neighbours screaming “get out” after an electrical fault sparked a fire at her home on Windygoul Crescent in Tranent, East Lothian. The pair then sprinted for safety as Tricia stood in her pyjamas in the snow while she watched her home go up in flames.
She has since been was dealt further heartbreak after she discovered she was without home insurance, having mistakenly failed to renew her policy. As reported by Edinburgh Live, some of Tricia’s belongings have since been salvaged and local neighbours and friends have offered to help fill a skip.
Despite being left with very little from her home, Tricia has already been offered a new kitchen and decorating work free of charge from local tradesmen – and a fundraiser set up by her daughter Stacey has surpassed £2,000.
This week, Tricia has been helped out by friends Rob, a retired builder from Dalkeith, and Ryan, who works on building sites, while clearing out all the burnt rubble from the house and garden. She also revealed the fire is believed to have started at the washing machine rather than the fridge freezer as was first suspected.
After Tricia was dragged out of her home she was also offered tea and food from those in the area and has since been staying with friends elsewhere in East Lothian.
She said: “I ran across the green in my pyjamas in the snow with my house burning down behind me thinking what kind of nightmare is this. The woman saw the fire as it started near my fridge freezer and as it’s a cul-de-sac people next to me didn’t see it but she did from across the green and didn’t hesitate before sprinting over.”
Tricia said one thing which put a smile on her face was the response from neighbours after the devastating blaze as several people offered to take her in and others came round with food.
She added: “The response was absolutely fabulous. My friends said we can do a crowdfunder and we can do this and that but I didn’t know anything about it. I have no idea what happened with my insurance. I even joked at one point while trying to make light of the situation.
“People kept saying they’ll rebuilt it better than it was but then I suddenly couldn’t find my documents. Then it just dawned on me. I don’t know what the hell I did. I must have just assumed I renewed it and not pressed the button but I just can’t believe it.” You can find Tricia’s fundraiser here.
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