Appeal launched to help family who lost home in blaze

A FUNDRAISING appeal has been launched to help a family who lost their home in a blaze at McDonagh's Caravan Park in Bettystown last week.

Ramona and Danile Baciu and their two children aged five and three, were thankfully not harmed in the fire on Monday evening of last week but it totally destroyed the mobile home they were living in and has left them with nothing.

The East Coast Mammies Group set up a Go Fund me page to support the family and within the first four days, over €17,000 was raised.

Writing on the page, Glenda Morris one of organisers said: “Ramona, Daniel Baciu and two children, a beautiful family of four, have been left distraught after their family home was destroyed by a fire tonight in McDonagh’s Caravan Park. Thank God no one was harmed. Luckily they were all out. This has left them with nothing.

“East Coast Mammies are setting this go fund me page up for them to hopefully give this family a start to get a home set back up or just to get some things for themselves.

“This won’t ever replace their possessions but can hopefully give them a bit of light. Anything you can give would be greatly appreciated.”

Sorcha Downey, who is also one of the organisers of the appeal lived next door to the family, who are originally from Romania, for seven years. She said within about half-an-hour, the mobile home was ash and all that was left was the fence around it.

“There was smoke everywhere, the fire engulfed the mobile in no time. There were two gas cannisters and a neighbour ran and disconnected them. It was lucky it wasn't oil fuelled like some of the mobiles.”

She said the family wasn't in the mobile at the time and the mother was out with walking with the children and the father was at work.

"All their possessions are gone. The kids had bikes outside and another neighbour pushed their car out of they way so that's all they have and the clothes on their backs."

The family is now living with Daniel's family but it is very crowded.

In an update on the gofundme page, Sorcha told how the site had been cleared and spoke of the hope that has come with the support shown to the family.

"I have watched this family of two grow into a family of four here over the recent years and although there is so much despair, there really is so much hope with all of the support that has come. This level ground will hopefully be the fresh start for them again, and they can grow their strong family once again," she wrote.

To make a donation search ‘Family in Need’ by Glenda Morris on gofundme.com.

There was damage also caused to some nearby mobile homes. Another appeal has been set up to help neighbours whose mobile home was damaged in the fire and will need a side panel and window replaced. Jimmy and Theresa Coughlan's daughter Michelle set up the appeal to help her parents. See ‘Jimmy and Theresa mobile home fund’ on gofundme to make a donation.