Moira Deeprose, 75, is staying with her daughter after a fire destroyed her home of 45 years on The Hill, Woodgate Valley. Investigators believe the blaze was caused by a carelessly discarded cigarette on July 15.
The retired grandmother had been out shopping and was lying on her bed when she heard a sound she first thought was rain pouring. She quickly realised the noise was the fire spreading from her garden into her house.
Moira escaped without burns but spent four days in hospital with smoke inhalation. Doctors also monitored her high blood pressure because she lives with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
A lifetime of memories lost
Everything Moira owned was destroyed, including family photographs, videos, jewellery from her children and irreplaceable mementoes. She had lived in the council property for 45 years but had not been able to take out house insurance because the property was prone to flooding.
The loss has been especially painful because she lost keepsakes connected to her son, who died in April aged 56 after also living with COPD. Her last remaining brother died at the end of last year. "They say things happen in threes - and it did," she said.
Reflecting on the fire, Moira told BirminghamLive: "I'd just come home from shopping and made myself a cup of tea. I lay down on the bed for a bit and, next thing I knew, the fire in the garden was up the house."
Community fundraiser launched
Richard Harris, a volunteer at the Barnardo's charity shop in Quinton, has set up a GoFundMe appeal to help Moira get back on her feet. He described her as a regular visitor to the shop who called the team her "home from home".
"Moira is a delightful lady who usually pops into the shop a few times a week to hunt for a bargain and have a good natter with us all," Richard said.
"Moira spent four days in hospital with breathing problems from the smoke - even worse when you're living with breathing-related problems already. Imagine that. You're 75, disabled and now sleeping on the sofa in your daughter's flat because you've got nothing. No pictures of the kids growing up, no 'World's Best Mum' mug, no toothbrush, nothing."
He called on the community to rally behind Moira, adding: "She needs everything from clothing to toiletries and, eventually, things like furniture, a bed and other essentials. But the one thing Moira needs the most, right now, is hope. Hope in community and a sign there are people out there who do care - even when you think you're alone, you're not."
Richard added: "Please help her with whatever you can spare. Every penny will be spent on helping Moira rebuild her life and buy herself the things she needs to remain independent."
Fire service investigation
A West Midlands Fire Service spokesperson said: "Shortly before 7.40pm on Wednesday July 15, we responded to The Hill, Birmingham. Four fire engines from Woodgate Valley, Bournbrook, Northfield and Kings Norton attended, arriving to find a fire that had started in a garden, but spread to a property."
"Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus used hose reels to extinguish the fire, which had not spread to neighbouring homes. One person was led to safety by neighbours. The fire is believed to have been caused accidentally, by careless cigarette disposal."
The spokesperson added: "Birmingham City Council representatives boarded up the property and we left this incident at 11.10pm, after confirming no hotspots remained."
Moira is now waiting to move into a new council property. Those wishing to contribute to her recovery can do so through the online fundraising page set up by Richard.
