A mother and her two young children in Gloucester were left with nothing but the clothes they were wearing after their home was devastated by a fire during the city’s fifth heatwave this summer.
Millie Reilly was at her home in Tredworth with her six-year-old daughter Darcie and two-year-old son Ellis when a fire broke out in their garden around 11.30am. The blaze was reportedly started when sunlight reflected off a glass table onto rubbish bags, igniting nearby bushes and quickly spreading to the house.
The fire rapidly engulfed the property, destroying the family’s belongings. Thankfully, Millie, Darcie, and Ellis escaped unharmed, thanks to the quick alert raised by a neighbour’s daughter, who spotted the flames while playing on a slide and raised the alarm.
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“I had to run back inside to rescue Fred, our dog, but thankfully he was unharmed,” Millie said. “Apart from that, we escaped with nothing but the clothes we had on. Everything else-our house, the children’s belongings-is gone. I’m usually the one who copes and moves forward, so it’s incredibly difficult to be in this position.”
Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service arrived within ten minutes, extinguishing the fire swiftly but remaining on site for five hours to ensure the fire did not reignite.
In the immediate aftermath, the British Red Cross provided assistance by arranging accommodation at a local hotel and supplying food and clothing for the children. Millie, who works as a Senior Care Support Worker, is currently staying with family and friends while awaiting council housing.
Friends and community members have organised fundraising efforts to support Millie and her family. As the rented property was uninsured, there is no compensation for the lost possessions, making these donations vital to helping them rebuild their lives.
A fundraiser has been set up for financial contributions, as well as donations of children’s clothes and toys. Funds raised will primarily go towards replacing essential furniture.
“This isn’t about wanting anything extra,” Millie explained. “It’s about giving Darcie and Ellis some stability and normality after losing everything.”
The family also faces the challenge of replacing presents intended for Darcie’s sixth birthday on 25 August, which were consumed by the fire, along with school uniforms and other daily necessities.
The Gloucestershire Crisis & Resilience Fund has contributed by providing vouchers for food shopping, offering additional support to the family.
Millie added, “The support we’ve received so far has been overwhelming and is helping us start to put our lives back together.”
Those wishing to donate children’s clothing or toys can contact Abbie Jaye Wilson at [email protected].