Family Escapes Vine Street Fire, Seeks Help

0:00On March 26th, a fierce fire destroyed a family home on Vine Street in Gorton last Sunday, March 22nd. The blaze broke out around 4.15 pm in an interst house, forcing a mum, dad and their nine kids to flee after a neighbor banged on the door and yelled for them to get out. Fire crews from nearby stations rushed in with three engines, battling flames that started upstairs and caused the roof to collapse. Recent paramedics cordoned off the street, treating several people at the scene, including three with burns, but no one needed hospital care. The family, with children ranging from one to 17 years old, had been going about their day when smoke poured from an upstairs window. The mum dashed to wake her napping husband and scoop up the barefoot kids playing nearby, crediting the neighbor with saving their lives. Now the house is a total loss, too unsafe to enter, and slated for demolition due to water, smoke and structural damage. They moved into temporary council housing in Rochester, miles from their schools, leaving

1:01them with nothing but the clothes they grabbed. Daughter Demi Lay launched an online fundraiser for essentials like shoes and coats, already getting clothing donations. Fire investigators suspect an electrical fault, but are still probing while the family counts their blessings for escaping unharmed.