A CHARD family have been ‘overwhelmed and humbled’ after community spirit has put them back on their feet within days of a devastating fire tearing through their home.

Andromeda Robertson-Huish has been reduced to tears by residents’ generosity since her family home was destroyed by the sudden blaze, and wants to thank Chard for the way it has rallied round.

Fire crews were first called to the home in Reed Close at 1.41am last Thursday morning by a neighbour.

Andromeda, who lived in the house for with her husband Steven, her three boys and her friend Mike, was the first to see something was wrong.

Chard & Ilminster News:

She said: “I was lying in bed, tossing and turning, and the moon was shining directly in.

“I turned to the window and thought ‘that isn’t the moon, that light is orange’.

“I got up and the garden was ablaze. The fire was pretty hefty from the word go.”

The couple grabbed the children and headed downstairs. Just seconds after Steven fetched the youngest, two-year-old Hunter, he heard the bedroom window shatter as flames raced up the side of the house.

Andromeda said: “The firemen said it hit the side of the house, went straight up the scaffolding and into the eaves like a blowtorch.

“If I hadn’t been awake, we could have perished or ended up with a roof on top of us.”

The group of six were left with nothing but the clothes on their backs, so one of their friends set up a Facebook group for donations.

Chard & Ilminster News:

“It just exploded,” Andromeda said.

“We couldn’t believe the community spirit. My faith in humanity has been well and truly restored. I broke down into tears.

“To hear these offers from people you have never even met. It is overwhelming and it is so humbling too.

“I have lived in Chard since I was seven and people talk it down, but when it comes to it, everyone is there for you.”

To support the family and offer donations, join Robertson-Huish House Fire Victims group on Facebook.