Fundraiser launched for Edinburgh couple who lost everything in devastating fire
The couple’s two cats were the only things firefighters were able to save from Thursday’s fire
An Edinburgh couple are trying to “rebuild from the ground up” after losing their home to a devastating fire at a block of flats in Muirhouse.
Distraught resident Alex was left “frightened” and “heartbroken” when a severe fire broke out on the top floor of her Ferry Gait Place apartment block shortly after 10am on Thursday, September 10.
It is understood the entire building will need to be pulled down, leaving the eight families residing in the block of flats with nowhere to live and their belongings lost to water damage.
It took six fire engines and countless firefighters hours to tackle the blaze, which left the building's exterior severely charred and the roof destroyed.
Thankfully, Alex Bernardo and her partner were at work at the time of the fire.
They only learned of it when spotted a teenager trying to knock their door on the couple’s Ring doorbell. Firefighters would eventually manage to rescue the Spanish couple’s two cats.
A baby and four adults were rescued from the building, which was turned to cinders as the fire ripped through the roof.
Police are currently inquiring into the circumstances behind the fire.
To help the couple find their feet after the devastating loss, Alex’s colleague Nicole Mullan has launched a GoFundMe campaign which is already nearly half way towards its £1000 target.
Nicole said: “They’ve lost everything from underwear to important documents like passports. All they’ve got is the clothes that they stand in.”
The couple are currently staying in a hotel arranged by a local community centre and have begun the process of trying to recover their costs through their insurance provider.
“Right now, their priority is simply finding somewhere safe to live and beginning to rebuild their life from the ground up,” continued Nicole.
“We know we can't replace the memories or belongings that have been lost, but together we can help take away some of the financial pressure and remind Alex that they are not alone.”
The majority of the donations have come from those that know the pair and “rallied around” them to help them to get the essentials and “some bits and bobs” for their cats.
The hope is that Alex and her partner can get out of living in a hotel and find somewhere more permanent to rent in the city.
Nicole added: “It’s traumatic for them to lose everything.
“It’s devastating for Alex because I know her personally but it’s also devastating for the other seven families.”
Nobody was injured in the fire and all five of those who were in the flat at the time were eventually dispatched by paramedics at the scene.
A neighbour said at the time: “It was pretty shocking. Nothing like this happens around here and it tends to be pretty quiet.”
Donations to the GoFundMe will go directly to the couple.