HOMELESS Neighbours rally round after mother and seven children lose home in blaze:
A MOTHER and her seven children have lost their home and all of their personal belongings after a fire gutted the house.
Alina Joseph, a mum-of-seven from Hirwaun in the Cynon Valley, had been at work three miles away from the family home on Saturday, when she received a call from her son saying their garden shed was on fire.
But while on her journey home she could see plumes of smoke coming from her house and arrived to find the property ablaze.
Speaking to BBC Radio Wales’ Good Morning Wales, Ms Joseph said: “I was just about to go and see one of my managers and I just lifted up my phone and the first thing I saw was my eldest son’s number.
“The first thing I could hear was him screaming on the phone ‘Mum, the shed is on fire’.”
The 38-year-old, who works at Tesco in Aberdare, left the store immediately and made her way home.
“Because Tesco is such a big store you can’t just panic, or people look at you crazy,” she continued.
“I just walked out of the store slowly, got into the car while still talking to my son.
“I was trying to keep calm so he would be calm and try to explain to me what was going on.”
Her son, Christian, 19, said everybody had escaped unharmed and the fire brigade had been called.
Ms Joseph is also mum to Daniel, 18; Glody, 17; Harley, 15; Christopher, 12; Blessing, eight, and Isaac, five.
When approaching the house, Ms Joseph saw that the fire had spread and could see smoke coming from the direction of her home. She called her son Christian again and asked if everybody was okay.
“He just started crying,” she said.
“He’s one of those children that doesn’t cry, He always tries to remain strong. He said ‘Mum, the house is burning’.
“He said the fire from the shed was too strong and it blew into the house.
“[When I got home] the house was ablaze, the fire brigade were there trying to do whatever they could. It kept going. It was just crazy.
“I don’t know how I got home so quickly.
“Everything was happening at the same time. People were telling me they’ve got my children.”
Since the fire tore the family’s house apart, the community has come together to support them.
Nearby residents, family and friends have donated money, clothes and food.
Sharon Hawkins, who lives in Aberdare, set up a JustGiving page to raise money. Some £415 has been donated so far, with the target set at £2,000.
On Twitter, South Wales Police said: “Working alongside our colleagues [South Wales Fire and Rescue Service] today.
“It was heart warming to see the community of Hirwaun come together, giving donations to a young family who sadly lost their home.”
Speaking about the generosity shown by members of the public, Ms Joseph said: “I can’t believe the unity from the community and how everybody has come together.
“I’ve had to stay away because I can’t take it. I’ve never seen people be so kind or so generous.
“One minute I’m sad and crying and then someone is knocking on the door giving me something and I think why am I crying, I have the support I need.”
Cynon Taf Community Housing Group, which owns the property, said it will continue to support Ms Joseph with their housing plans.
Michelle Reid, chief executive of Cynon Taf Community Housing Group, said: “We are so thankful that Alina and the children are all safe.
“Our staff attended over the weekend to secure the home and to offer any immediate assistance. We will continue to support the family with their immediate and long-term housing plans.
“The response from the local community has been outstanding, and I hope that in time this will help the family to come to terms with their ordeal.”