A WOMAN whose Llandudno home was gutted by fire in March has told of the “unbelievable” help provided to her in the weeks and months since the incident.
Zara Groves was alone in her home on Ffordd Dewi on the evening of Thursday, March 24 when the fire at her property took place, with emergency services called just after 10pm.
The fire caused smoke damage to the upstairs of Zara’s home, while her kitchen and furniture was destroyed, the lounge and ceiling needed replastering, and windows were left cracked and broken.
Zara, a health, fitness and body confidence coach, has had more than £7,000 donated to her via two GoFundMe pages set up by her friends, Sarah Clark, who Zara credited for "organising all the work that needed doing", and Lucy Devereux.
Zara, who said she has lived on the estate for 17 years, was full of gratitude for the amount of time and money people, some of whom she did not even know, have dedicated to helping her.
She said: “It’s been unbelievable. The amount of help I’ve had from people has been unreal.
“The GoFundMe pages raised just over £7,000 and I’ve had painters and decorators come, companies have given me paint, people have fitted the kitchen, and done loads of plastering for and cleaning, all for free.
“Lots of business, and untold friends, have come and done stuff for me.
“There have been so many people who I don’t even know who have come and helped me, which is phenomenal.
"So many people came and helped with cleaning and sorting, and so many donated money to the GoFundMe pages and gifts to help me just feel better, from a delivery of beer to massages, baking me cakes, reiki, reflexology, doing my hair, and taking me out for food just to forget, too.
"From the absolute bottom of my heart, the gratitude I have towards everyone’s kindness... I doubt I would have got through this without everyone’s help and support."
Zara has been staying with friends since the incident while her house is repaired, but hopes it will be ready to move back in to within the next month.
Neighbours described seeing a fireball in the hallway of a house, while neighbouring properties were evacuated.
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Zara added: “I’m OK, I’m getting on with it. I’m obviously still quite frightened from the whole thing. I’m still not in my house; that’s still not completed, but it’s almost there.
“There was an awful lot of structural work, but that’s been done, but there are no blinds, curtains or carpets at the moment, and there’s a little bit more to do in the kitchen.
“I’m in my house cooking and showering now, but not staying there yet. I’m hoping within the next month, I’ll be back in.
“It’s just the new furniture, carpets and curtains; that side of things now. But I’m getting there.
“Within the next month, I should be moving back in, and then its just the process of building up the furniture, really.”
You can donate to either of the GoFundMe pages set up to help Zara at: www.gofundme.com/f/udp7d7-house-fire and www.gofundme.com/f/zara-groves-house-repairsd.
Zara also wanted to thank the following people and businesses for their help since the fire:
- Paula Stevens, "who has homed me and looked after me since it happened".
- Dan Williams - Clean It UK.
- Mike Mapp - JMS Windows, Doors & UPVC (new front door).
- Clint - Gold Star Double Glazing (new window).
- Karen and Neil - AA Conservatories (new French doors).
- Paul Hughes Plastering (re-plastered all walls and ceilings).
- Pete Woosnam (re-built kitchen and bathroom).
- James Payne (gave a new bathroom suite).
- Crest (took away heaps of rubbish).
- Montgomery Painters and Decorators.
- Oggy Williams (painter).
- Nick Jones (painter).
- Crown Paints.
- Leyland Paints.
- Ty Glan Cleaning Services.
- Jennifer Lee - Vanish Cleaning
- Waitrose (£50 gift voucher for food).
- Morrisons (£100 gift voucher for food).
On March 28, North Wales Police confirmed a man, 40, was charged with arson with intent to endanger life following the incident.
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