A family who lost everything in a fire have thanked generous Fifers who saved Christmas for their children.
Jorge and Manuela Figueiredo were left homeless just two days before Christmas after fire ripped through a block of flats in Kirkcaldy’s Dunearn Drive.
After the story was carried by The Courier on Christmas Eve, local businesses and residents rallied round to spread some festive cheer. And the couple say there are no words to express their gratitude.
Mr Figueiredo (39) said: ”People have been very generous and have delivered many presents for the kids. At first they were scared and couldn’t sleep because they could still see the flames but the next day, after unwrapping many, many presents, they seemed to be coping quite well with the situation.”
”We’d like to tell people how much we appreciate their generosity.”
Since the blaze, which is being investigated by the police, the couple and their children, aged six and eight, have been staying in B&B accommodation until they find another home.
The block, let by Fife Special Housing Association, was gutted by the fire and may have to be demolished. All six flats in the three-storey block are uninhabitable and the front door has been boarded up.
Fife Fire and Rescue Service sent eight appliances to the scene at around 7pm on Friday after a top-floor flat went up in smoke. The blaze spread to the roof and there were fears for surrounding properties because the block is part of a terrace.
Neighbours were evacuated and initially taken to a temporary shelter at Dunearn Primary School, set up by Fife Council’s emergency planning department. While others managed to make arrangements with relatives, the Figueiredos, who have no family living nearby, had nowhere to go and were helped by the council’s homelessness service.
All occupants managed to escape to safety, with one man in his 60s requiring treatment for smoke inhalation.
What remained of the roof was removed for safety reasons on Saturday.
It is understood the top-floor flat was unoccupied at the time and what sparked the drama remains a mystery. A police spokesman said no comment could be made on the possibility of criminal activity until they had completed a joint investigation with the fire service.
The Figueiredos, who lived on the first floor, said they were just about to sit down to dinner on Friday when they smelled smoke. The couple knocked on doors to alert neighbours then realised the fire was spreading fast and fled.
Within a matter of minutes, the property was engulfed by fire and their home destroyed.
”In 10 minutes your life is changed,” said Mrs Figueiredo (35). ”Police officers who have been in the house advised us to be prepared because it’s quite bad. The ceiling is falling in and it’s still a crime scene.
”I was crying because I was sad and then suddenly I’m crying because I’m happy, because people remembered our kids. I don’t have the words to describe it.”