Boy, six, could see smoke from school as house went up…

Boy, six, could see smoke from school as house went up in flames

A little boy who saw smoke as he was in school didn't know it was coming from his house which had gone up in flames.

Suelen Arena had returned to her home in Maplewood Close, Netherley after picking up her daughter from nursery when she saw a lot of smoke coming from the house and rang the fire service. The ground floor of the house, which is home to Suelen, her husband Carmello and children Francesco, six and two-year-old Elisa was well alight.

The 35-year-old said the blaze - which is understood to have started in the kitchen - has left the family with "nothing at all, no belongings and no home." But Suelen told the ECHO the most difficult thing about the incident, which happened in October, was telling her son Francesco about what had happened.

She said her little boy told his parents he could see smoke from school, which was nearby his home, but had no idea it was coming from their house.

Speaking to the ECHO, Suelen said: "I had to go to the school to bring my child home [...] I didn't know how to explain what happened. His bedroom is above the kitchen and that's very damaged also by smoke. He told me 'that's why we saw smoke', as his school is in front of the house."

The damage after the fire at the Arena's home (Suelen Arena)

She added: "He has cried a lot. He wishes to have his room back the same as before. Unfortunately there are certain memories I can't give him back, some things you definitely can't buy with money."

Since the fire, the family has had to move back and forth between eight temporary accommodations which Suelen said "really distressed" her two children and took them two months and two weeks to validate a claim on insurance. It was only on Monday, December 19 the family-of-four were able to rent an apartment that they don't have to move from.

A GoFundMe page has been set up to help the family buy essential items, household electrical items and furniture. Writing on the page, Suelen said: "I will never forget the noise of objects breaking and glass shattering, I saw my lovely house vanish in front of my eyes.

"All our years of effort towards having a beautiful home were destroyed in 20 minutes. We are absolutely devastated and heart broken since this happened."

She added: "All that I want is to give to my children their happy life back."

A spokesperson for Merseyside Fire and Rescue said: "Fire crews were called to Maplewood Close, Netherley on October 6. Crews were alerted at 12.57pm and on scene at 1.06pm. Four fire engines and an aerial appliance were in attendance.

"Firefighters arrived to find a fully developed house fire at a mid terraced two storey property, with the ground floor well alight. Firefighters began to fight the fire externally to the front and rear of the house with hose reel jets.

"The main body of fire was extinguished by around 1.45pm and fire crews wearing breathing apparatus continued to damp down the property and check for hot spots inside. Properties either side were checked for fire spread and were found to be unaffected.

"Residents of the property were all accounted for outside the property and without injury. Firefighters left the scene at 5.19pm."

To donate to the GoFundMe page, please click here.

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