Donations flood in for midlands family who lost everything in house fire

A fundraising drive launched yesterday (Sunday) for a family in Tullamore who lost all their belongings in a devastating early morning fire at their home has almost reached its initial target of €10,000.

The GoFundMe page was set up to assist the family, Tomas, Joanna and their two children, Laura and Brian, after their home in the Oakfield area of the town was destroyed in a blaze which broke out in the early hours of yesterday morning.

Offaly Fire Service were called to the scene of the blaze at approximately 4.23am yesterday morning, and two units from Tullamore and Clara spent a number of hours fighting the blaze and departed the scene at 9am. No injuries were reported.

Local Gardai also attended the scene of the fire and enquiries into the cause of the blaze are ongoing.

In the wake of the fire, a Go Fund Me appeal was set up by Pawel Skura who said that, while the entire family is safe, they only have “what they were wearing” at the time the fire broke out at their home and will need help to “get through the next several weeks and months ahead.”

Stating that the family have been “left homeless for Christmas” the fundraising organiser issued an appeal for people to “rally behind” the stricken family and said all donations would be “greatly appreciated” to help out the family and “get them back on their feet.”

As of this morning (Monday), the Go Fund Me appeal has already reached €9,627 and has attracted 276 donations. Many of those who donated posted personal messages of support to the family and pledged to assist them in whatever way they could.

You can donate to the appeal here