A mum has described watching her house go up in flames as she stood helplessly behind a police cordon.
Ashley Kerr and her 11-year-old daughter Aliza Rose lost everything in the fire at their home in Stratton, near Culloden, last week.
Among the treasured possession lost were photos and jewellery belonging to Aliza’s late dad Graham, along with his ashes. He died of a heart attack four years ago, aged just 28.
A GoFundMe page has now been set up to help the family rebuild their lives, but Miss Kerr admitted that just now, it is hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel.
Firefighters were called to the fire at Drumossie Road on June 20 and worked for two hours to extinguish the flames.
Miss Kerr and her partner Ian Stewart watched from the end of the street as the crews worked.
A 24-year-old has since been charged in connection with the incident and is expected to appear at Inverness Sheriff Court today.
Miss Kerr and her daughter had recently moved into the property after being rehomed from Kiltarlity by Albyn Housing.
The 35-year-old, who has been anxious and unable to sleep since the fire, said she cannot believe her “bad luck”.
The former children’s worker said: “It is horrific. I am in utter shock that this has happened. I can not believe what we have been through – and now we have nothing.”
She described setting up her new house, and spending every extra penny she had on making it a home for her and her daughter.
“Now we have no photos, no clothes: all our memories, everything – it is all destroyed,” she said.
Nothing could be saved
“I just could not believe what was happening,” she said. “My beautiful house was burning and nothing could be saved.
“I was so worried for my next door neighbour and her baby, as I know she goes for a sleep in the afternoon and I was so frightened that they would be caught in the fire.
“I am so glad that Aliza was at school and not at home ill. That really doesn’t bear thinking about.”
She continued: “We were not insured. Every month I was getting something else that I needed. I don’t work and money has been exceptionally scarce.
“I had just bought a fridge freezer, before that I was paying for decorating and new carpets and curtains, and I thought that next month I might be able to afford house insurance.”
Albyn Housing has now rehomed Miss Kerr and her daughter, and have also bought essentials such as underwear and toiletries.
“All we had were the clothes we were standing up in,” Miss Kerr said. “Everything we had is gone.”
She said that although her partner Mr Stewart has his own house, some of his belongings have gone up in smoke too.
Describing the incident as the latest in a line of bad luck, she said: “The last four or five years have been utterly devastating. When Graham died, my daughter was only seven years old.
“We didn’t know about his underlying heart condition. It was a very, very sudden death. We have kept Graham’s ashes and they have been a comfort to Aliza. We can’t quite get our head around not having him with us anymore.
“I didn’t realise how long grief lasts. At times, every day is a struggle.”
‘I feel like I am grieving all over again’
Miss Kerr said she and her daughter have slowly been rebuilding their lives since the loss of her partner.
But last winter, their heating at their home in Kiltarlity was broken for nearly two months so they “reluctantly” accepted a new house in Stratton.
“At first I was against moving, but I began to see it as a new start for Aliza and me,” she said. “I had begun a new relationship with Ian and I thought that this was the opportunity we needed.
“I feel like I am grieving all over again.
“I just cannot believe I have lost everything.”
Conversation