Disabled mum and autistic son, 9, face homeless Christmas after losing everything as tumble dryer fire destroys home
A MUM says she has “lost everything” after the flat she shares with her son was destroyed in a tumble dryer blaze.
Lisa Camilleri, 51, who is disabled, and nine-year-old Alfie, who suffers with anxiety and is being assessed for autism, face a “bleak Christmas” spent apart and without their home due to the devastating fire.
Lisa was home alone when she heard a “loud bang” from her tumble dryer in early November and was plunged into darkness as the “bang” tripped the electric.
She says: “When I first walked [into the kitchen], I didn’t even look at the dryer but I could feel something glowing behind me.
“Then I turned around and all I could see were orange flames coming from the back of it.
“I just stood there looking at it. Panic set in and there was smoke, then the windows blew out.”
She phoned the emergency services and luckily escaped with her life – but her flat was engulfed in moments.
Pictures from the flat show a sea of soot, broken windows and furniture that is completely blackened with thick smoke.
‘PANIC SET IN’
Devastatingly, Lisa had moved house not long ago and forgotten to update her contents insurance as she kitted out her and Alfie’s new flat.
Now her insurance company is offering less than half the amount she needs to repair the damages.
The 51-year-old mum already suffers with arthritis, costochondritis and fibromyalgia but has since been diagnosed with PTSD and is completely traumatised.
She said: “I’ve lost everything, but I just thank the lord I managed to get out. Luckily Alfie wasn’t there.
“Christmas this year is looking bleak.”
Lisa says the only room that was salvageable was her son, Alfie’s as luckily the door was closed – but his belongings are still damaged from smoke.
I cannot go back to my flat, it’s too traumatising
Lisa Camilleri,
She added: “I have to save my leather sofa and chairs from the smoke damage, my bed, that’s got smoke all over it. And Alfie’s stuff too.”
Due to Alfie’s conditions he has struggled to acclimatise to the big changes.
Despite being offered temporary accommodation, Alfie has had to stay with his sister.
Lisa said: “They’ve found me a temporary house which I’m starting to move into now, but they won’t let me stay here [for the future].
“That’s the worst thing about it – I cannot go back to my flat, it’s too traumatising.
“They won’t carpet the new place or anything like that.
“He won’t step foot in this new [temporary accommodation] place until it’s absolutely spotless…it’s just so hard.
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“I’m trying to do my best by mopping the floorboards and he’s staying with my daughter at the moment.
“I’m expecting to stay here for months, depending on the work needed. There’s so much work to be done.
“Luckily, I have a supportive family who have been doing as much as they can.”
