A Nairn family who lost everything in a house fire have thanked people who have helped with cash and donations towards rebuilding their lives.
After escaping from the blaze in Mill Road with only the clothes on her back, mother-of-four Samantha Maritz, 38, said she and her family were lucky to be alive.
Speaking to the Press and Journal, Ms Maritz expressed her gratitude to the police, the fire service and the whole community for the kindness shown to her and her family.
She even thanked her mum for taking in the while family until another home can be found.
Ms Maritz said: “On Friday morning, at 12.30am, I was shaken awake by my eldest daughter Shania, 15, to tell me that the house was on fire.
”I was in bed with my youngest daughter Hayley who is eight. Shania normally sleeps through anything – so we were very lucky.
”The house had quickly filled with smoke and we were already suffering from smoke inhalation.
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”I carried Hayley down the stairs and my eldest daughter managed to get our three dogs outside to safety.”
Upon realising that her cat was missing, Ms Maritz added: “I ran back upstairs. I found my cat under the bed, so I quickly grabbed him and ran for my life.
”Just as we reached the garden gate, the whole of the upstairs went up in flames and the windows blew out.
“I feel as though my life has gone, myself and my children left the house with nothing but the clothes on our backs, we have no home, no clothing and we don’t even have any shoes for our feet.
”Being a single mum, we couldn’t afford insurance.
”But our local community has been amazing and have donated clothes for the children, which is a huge relief.
”The council have said they will help us find a new home on Monday. But we have lost everything – all the memories of my children growing up were in the house, my photos, everything has gone.
”However, we have been overwhelmed with kindness by all the support we have received. I don’t know what we would have done without it.”
Scottish Fire and Rescue told Ms Maritz the fire had been started by an electrical fault.
Donations can be made to the campaign at gofundme.com/68rmb-help-a-family-after-house-fire
