A hairdresser has recalled a devastating house fire that made her lose everything - all because of one small candle.
Tash Lyall, 28, said she was enjoying a day off from work when the fire broke out at her home in Bootle, Merseyside. Since the incident, she is hoping to raise awareness around the danger of candles in a home.
The hairdresser believes the candle was knocked over by one of her two cats. She stated that by the time emergency services arrived on the scene, the blaze was 'roaring', the Liverpool Echo reports.
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"I'd been doing the usual thing of blitzing the house and I put a candle on," she said. "I nipped downstairs to make a coffee and about ten minutes later heard my partner shouting me. The whole upstairs was full of smoke."
She added: "We were in and out making sure the cats were out and getting the car keys to move the vehicles out of the way. We were just stood watching the house burn from outside.
"We live in a close estate and one neighbour has a three-week-old baby and the other is eight months pregnant. I felt so guilty for putting everyone in danger and putting them in that position. The neighbours were out helping us.
"The fire service got there within three minutes - we're so lucky. They went straight in and had it out within half an hour. They're unbelievable, they don't get enough recognition."
She continued: "It was terrifying. I was relieved at them coming so quickly. I had to go to hospital after inhaling smoke."
Tash slices with her mum Karen, a psychotherapist and counsellor. The pair are self-employed and have been forced to take time off work due to the blaze.
"My mum had gone on holiday that morning. I'm gutted this happened to my mum. It's her home and she's worked so hard for that house. I want to spread the word and tell people to get rid of candles and just use diffusers."
Now, a GoFundMe page has been set up to help Tash and her family. Best friend Joss Gerard, who set up the page, said: "She's lost everything.
"She's usually always the one smiling and giving. She's like a deer in the headlights."
Speaking of the fundraiser, Tash said: "I wasn't expecting people to get involved, the messages were enough. People have gone out of their way. All of my stuff is completely gone but luckily some of my mum's is still in tact. We're trying to salvage what we can. It's a massive, massive help."
To visit the Gofundme page click here.
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