Cynon Valley

Hundreds raised for community affected by blaze

- TOM HOUGHTON tom.houghton@walesonlin­e.co.uk

HUNDREDS of pounds have been raised for those affected by a fatal fire that shocked a Valleys community.

The crowdfundi­ng page was launched after emergency services were called to the house fire in Gamlyn Terrace, Hirwaun, in the early hours of Tuesday, after which a man later died having been rescued from the blaze.

Now the Cynon Valley community is coming together to raise money for his family as well as others forced to evacuate their homes due to fire damage.

It was set up by Rhondda Cynon Taf ward councillor for Penywaun, Helen Boggis, and she hopes to raise more than £5,000.

By Monday, it had raised over £300, and Coun Boggis said: “Obviously it’s devastatin­g news. I have had quite a number of people asking me and wanting to make donations to the families, who have lost a lot.

“Hopefully we will raise £5,000 for them but we are hoping to smash that target. It’s a very strong community and we pull together in times of need. We will do it again.”

Emergency services were called to a house fire that had spread to other properties in the terraced road just before 3am on Tuesday.

Firefighte­rs performed CPR on the man, who has not been identified, before he was taken to Prince Charles Hospital in Merthyr Tydfil in a critical condition where he later died.

According to the British Red Cross (BRC) one of the 10 families who had to evacuate their homes on Tuesday were able to return the next day while the others remain in alternativ­e accommodat­ion.

Vernon Cornish, BRC senior emergency response officer for Wales, said: “Police, together with the council and emergency services, are discussing issues around access to the homes.”

He also said one person, who had been admitted to hospital with smoke inhalation following the incident, had been released.

He added: “Two volunteers from our Swansea emergency response team will go up to Gamlyn Terrace on Wednesday evening to make contact with four groups to see what emotional and practical support is required.

“That will be the people who are evacuated from their homes, those who have returned to the home that was deemed safe, members of the deceased’s family, and finally knocking on the doors of the terrace opposite who may have witnessed what happened.”

Speaking about the crowdfundi­ng page, Coun Boggis said the idea came about after the community got together following a burglary at St Lleurwg’s Church in Hirwaun on Christmas Eve.

On that occasion more than £2,000 was raised to help the church pay for the thousands of pounds’ worth of silverware and electrical equipment that was taken.

She added: “That went so well so we thought it’d be a good idea to allow people to give what they can. I think it’s a fantastic idea.

“The money will go to all the families who were affected by the fire, including those who had to leave their homes.

“We will just go and give the money out when we are ready.”

In terms of exactly what it will be spent on, she added: “It’s early days. I’m not sure if they were all insured, the money could go towards works that need doing, it could fund furniture or children’s toys. I have been up there handing out my cards. We will do everything we can to help.”

Also reacting to the news, community councillor for Hirwaun Margaret Walters said: “It’s so sad. It’s such a little street and has always been as it is now. It has not changed over the years. It’s terrible something like this could happen up here.” To donate to the Just Giving page visit www.justgiving.com/crowdfundi­ng/helen-boggis

 ??  ?? A fire engine at the scene in Gamlyn Terrace, Hirwaun, last week
A fire engine at the scene in Gamlyn Terrace, Hirwaun, last week

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