Newbridge blaze hit family says ‘thank you’
The King Family from Newbridge. Re Story. by Paula Campbell. House Fire. Dylan, Darren, Toby, Tony, Lexi, Bernie, Joe King, Family. Photo. Jimmy Fullam.
A Newbridge family who lost their home in a fire have been left overwhelmed by the generosity shown since their ordeal.
Parents of five, Bernie and Tony King, were forced to flee their home in Corbally, Herbertstown with their eleven-month-old baby Lexie, who was asleep on the couch at the time, after a fire suddenly broke out on the roof as it was being repaired on Wednesday afternoon, October 10 last. They lost all their furniture, clothes, treasured photographs, toys and their pet dog Mimi in the blaze.
“So far we have been inundated with bags of clothes,” said Bernie who also received new school uniforms, a voucher for home heating oil and an offer of new accomodation. “Both of my son’s school’s parents associations have been brilliant. There is so much kindness out there.”
Luckily none of the couples other children, Darren (21, who has special needs), Dylan (17), Joey (9) or Toby (6) were in the house at the time of the blaze.
“We were about to pick up our boys from school,” said Bernie. “The baby was asleep on the couch. I noticed that my eyes began to sting and went outside. All I could see was this thick black smoke. The chap who was working on the roof told me to call 999. I grabbed the baby and ran back out to the front. It just went up so quick. Everything inside was ours as we furnished it and it is all gone.”
According to Bernie, her husband Tony, who tried in vain to save the family dog, ended up in hospital suffering from smoke inhalation.
“He is still not right,” she added. “He went back in to save the dog and grab a few things.”
The family now have new rented acomodation in Hawthorn Close on the Dublin Road after the owner of the house heard about their situation and got in touch. “We have got somewhere to live now in Hawthorn Close which is near the schools. The community of Newbridge have been great and our families and Cllr Paddy Kennedy has been brilliant.
“If we didn’t have them I don’t know where we would be. I dread to think what could have happened but I am not going to dwell on it or it would drive you mad.”
A fundraiser will be held for the King family in the McDermott Mess on the Curragh on November 23, at 8pm.
- Paula Campbell
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Weather for Naas, Ireland
Wednesday 22 May 2013
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