AFTER a borough community rallied round a family in need after a dramatic fire gutted their home, their local councillor has updated residents on developments following today's blaze at a block of flats in Chadwell St Mary.

Local councillor Sara Muldowney was on the scene shortly after firefighters arrived to tackle the blaze in a flat on the top floor of George Tilbury House.

This evening (Saturday, 21 May) after a long day supporting the family, Cllr Muldowney wanted to update residents – and also highlight a local appeal.

Cllr Muldowney said: "Cllr Daniel Chukwu and I just wanted everyone to know that the family who escaped a devastating fire at Chadwell flats today are ok. It has obviously been a devastating shock. They have literally lost everything in this fire. After being given the all-clear by the wonderful NHS staff at Basildon Hospital, paediatrics A&E, I dropped mum and daughter off this afternoon at the temporary accommodation provided by the council.

"We want to thank the emergency services for their prompt and effective response. This was a fire that caused extensive damage to the flat it started in, but the fire crews were able to contain the damage to one flat, without injury to any person. The co-ordination and co-operation between the different emergency services and the kindness and compassion shown to this family was really exemplary.

"We would also want to highlight something that is rarely reported in news stories, but is always present in my experience, and that is the response from local residents.

"Just one example, when we arrived at the scene, mum had no shoes or socks on, she had been told by the fire service to leave the flat immediately and she did not have time to take anything.

"A local mum immediately asked what size she was and within minutes, someone had donated a pair of shoes and socks. Someone else went to the local foodbank and brought back two bags of food for them. I spoke to friends of the family and they had organised two bags of clothes for the family, as they only had the smoky clothes they stood up in.

"A friend of the family, despite being injured herself, turned up to help. Another local resident, on hearing that the family had lost everything, got mum's permission to set up a Go Fund Me page. All of these people are the unsung heroes of today's events, helping our emergency and on-call services to look after this family."

"Council staff were on the scene soon afterwards and Cllr Chukwu and I would personally like to thank Ancuta and Sam from the housing team for all their hard work today."

"I know that times are really hard for a lot of people at the moment with food and fuel prices rocketing, but if you can spare even a couple of pounds, please support the Go Fund Me page: https://gofund.me/14b26ac9

"Cllr Chukwu and I will be following up with the family to make sure that they are taken care of, in the days and weeks to come."

The fundraising page has been set up by Paige Alexander who says: "Today the lovely Donna and Sophie lost their home due to a fire breaking out in their kitchen due to a faulty tumble dryer. Donna and Sophie have lost absolutely everything including the clothes on her back! We are raising money with Donna's full consent to rebuild her life and her belongings for her and her daughter Sophie! Please give any amount! It all helps. All proceeds will be given directly to Donna and her daughter to purchase whatever they may need!

https://www.gofundme.com/f/rebuild-this-poor-familys-home-back-up?utm_campaign=p_cp+share-sheet&utm_medium=copy_link_all&utm_source=customer