A woman fears she has lost everything after a fire broke out at a block of flats in Cardiff. Beverly Ryce-Davies, 53, was asleep in her top-floor flat at Greenway Road, Rumney when the blaze began at 11pm on Friday, July 15.
Six fire engines attended the incident, finally bringing it under control at 9.35am on Saturday, July 16. Police, gas workers and council staff were also all seen at the two-storey flats in the morning. The cause of the fire is yet to be confirmed. Read more and see pictures here.
Beverly's brother Andrew Smith said his sibling was alerted to the fire when a woman banged on her door. Although she tried to exit via the fire escape the heat from the flames was too strong.
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The 43-year-old said: "She went to bed fairly early and then she was woken up by lots of banging. There was a young couple behind the building who saw the flames [who] raised the alarm and knocked on lots of doors to get people out.
"My sister is on the top level. As soon as she opened the fire exit door the heat just hit her. The heat coming out of it was so hot it was like opening an oven so she had to get out through the front of the property."
Andrew said Beverly rang their sister Sarah who picked her up and took her to Andrew's home in Caerphilly. On Monday she moved into temporary accommodation provided by the council.
Beverly, who owns her flat, has home insurance but is unsure as to whether she has contents insurance. However no insurance will replace the sentimental items lost including family pictures and her piano. Although she hasn't been back to the flat Beverly's family believe she has probably lost everything. Get all the latest news from CardiffOnline sent straight to your inbox with our free newsletters. Sign up here.
Andrew said: "They spent about four hours putting the fire out. You have four hours of fire damage and four hours of water damage. With her being on the top level the chances of any of her stuff [being salvaged] are low."
On behalf of his sister Andrew started a GoFundMe page to help her raise money and get back on her feet. You can donate to the fundraising page here.
Andrew said: "It's that psychological lift I think she needs, especially with what she's going through emotionally. There are people who don't even know us and have contributed. It's times like this your faith in humanity really comes through."
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