COMMUNITY RALLIES TO HELP FIRE VICTIMS
THE JEWISH community has come to the aid of residents whose homes were destroyed after a fire started in a kosher supermarket.
Firefighters were called to the blaze at Kay’s store in Golders Green at 7.30 last Sunday morning. Around 30 people were rescued as flames spread to flats in the two-storey building. Six people suffering the effects of smoke inhalation were taken to hospital.
This week three members of the area’s Jewish community set up a Facebook group to aid those displaced by the fire.
One of the organisers told the JC the group used social media and online messaging service WhatsApp to mobilise support. Collection points were established in Golders Green and Hendon, where donors have given food clothes, and baby products.
The organiser, who did not wish to be named, said the next stage was to appeal to large supermarket chains to donate voucher cards, so the victims would be able to buy food and other supplies.
She said: “A lot of people have been helping. We started by just getting the word out asking for everything and anything.
“We made a lot of calls and tracked down the people who had lost their homes and then we started collecting
specific items for their needs. We just want to give the victims their dignity back.
“In the Jewish community there’s a real gratitude, a real generosity of spirit. It’s Kiddush Hashem. I don’t want to be too frum about it but it’s just our values. You treat your neighbours how you would want to be treated. It’s just what you do.”
A GoFundMe page has been set up
to raise money for the victims of the blaze.
The cause of the blaze is still unknown. The Metropolitan Police has said the result of its investigation was “inconclusive”, and it has now handed the building back to the owners of Kay’s and the flats.
More than 95 firefighters from station across north London spent 12 hours tackling the blaze before it was brought under control.
Crews remained on the scene through the day and on Monday and Tuesday damping down remaining hotspots.
The entire ground floor of the shop and a large section of the first floor was gutted.
One firefighter with 30 years experience said it was one of the most challenging jobs he had faced.
Jewish residents handed out food, water and cups of tea to the victims and emergency services workers.
Staff at Slice restaurant distributed 300 slices of pizza. Hackney fire brigade borough commander, Steve Dudeney, tweeted: “In 30 years as a London firefighter this is one of the most generous gestures I’ve ever seen from the community. Thank you all.”
Edith Binstock, who lives in nearby Princes Park Avenue, said: “The fire was a really horrible thing to see. We went down and made cups of tea for people. We have a good community here. I’m very proud.”
Graham Calvert, who lives on the same road, said there he was “not surprised at all” at the community response.
Jewish Care opened its premises on Golders Green Road, to look after the victims.
Simon Morris, Jewish Care’s chief executive, said, “As soon as we heard that there was a fire at Kay’s Deli we opened our doors to ensure that everyone who was affected was safe and had what they needed whilst they were evacuated. Being there for one another at times like these is what being part of a community is all about.”
One resident who escaped the blaze told how how he and his pregnant girlfriend were saved thanks to a pet dog.
Alex Gibson and Charlotte Perren were asleep in their flat above the Kay’s store when the blaze started early.
They were awakened only when Daisy, a three-year-old spaniel, started barking as their bedroom filled with thick smoke.
Mr Gibson smashed a window and managed to escape the flat with Ms Perren, but they were unable to rescue Daisy who perished from smoke inhalation.
Mr Gibson, a 22-year-old DJ, broke his foot when he fell down a flight of stairs, and was taken to hospital.
He said: “Daisy was our hero. It was fate she happened to be staying with us that night. She saved both of our lives and our neighbours.”
The couple had been looking after the dog overnight for Mr Gibson’s mother, Sandra Carney.
She said she was “devastated” at the loss of her dog, who was “part of the family”, but said she was so proud of Daisy’s lifesaving actions.
Ms Carney said: “If it wasn’t for her I would also be saying goodbye to my son and his partner today. She was amazing. She died looking after them both.”
Mr Gibson paid tribute to the Jewish community who came to aid of the couple who have been left homeless by the fire.
He said: “We have lost everything. It’s all gone. All we’ve got are the clothes on our back. It’s been very traumatic. But the Jewish community, and the community as a whole, has really pitched in and helped us.”
He claimed that the smoke alarms had been turned off hours before the blaze started after they were repeatedly set off by a neighbour’s cooking.
However this was unconfirmed by other residents and the London Fire Brigade.