Appeal launched as blaze leaves family of 7 homeless

A community is rallying around a family of seven left homeless for Christmas following a devastating fire.

An appeal was launched yesterday to help Alan and Carol Crean and their five children, ranging from four to 16, who lost everything in the fire that gutted their home.

All their possessions, even Christmas presents, were destroyed in the blaze at their bungalow, in Ash Hill, Farmer’s Bridge, Tralee, Co Kerry.

A family friend, Mary McQuinn appealed for help for the Creans, who are staying with other family members. A special bank account has also been opened.

“Santa has to have a new address now...The family have nothing now, but they’re glad to be alive. It’s a miracle they’re all okay,’’ she said.

“No donation would be too small — anything to put a silver lining on the cloud to get them through Christmas,” she added.

Neighbours and local businesses have already come to the family’s aid with food, clothes, bed linen and presents.

The Creans and their children — Jade, 16; Ryan, 9; Conor, 7; and twins Aaron and Ruby, 4; are in a state of shock.

Four fire brigade units attended the scene and worked for several hours to control the blaze, which was fanned by strong winds, but they could not save the house.

An outside workshop, which Mr Crean used for his salad business, and a van parked nearby were also destroyed.

Jade Crean first noticed the fire, believed to have started between the house and the workshop, and she alerted her father and her uncle, Justin Ross, who was in the house at the time.

Using a fire extinguisher, they tried to control the blaze, but the intensity of the heat drove them back and the fire spread to the house in the strong winds.

But, they got everyone out of the house, while a neighbour turned off the gas supply and moved a gas tank a safe distance from the fire.

A number of collection points have been organised in Tralee, including some Spar supermarkets and Sean Og’s town centre public house.

* People wishing to donate can also contribute to an account at AIB, Tralee, in the name of Carol Clifford Ross. The account number is: 80558184; sort code: 93-62-19.