Three-year-old twins were "covered in black soot" after escaping a flat fire which killed the family pet.
Ieva Čunka, from Speke, was at home with her three-year-old twins and stepdad when a sudden fire broke out - her 12-year-old daughter was at school at the time. Firefighters were called to her home just before 11.30am on Monday, June 12 and three fire engines attended the scene.
The 30-year-old said "it all happened really fast" and one of the walls inside her flat was "all in flames".
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Speaking to the ECHO, she said: "I was in bed to have a lie [down] because I had a headache and the kids were playing games on the TV. My stepdad then ran into the room and said there was a fire."
She added: "We had to leave everything behind, I didn't even get my phone and the kids were basically naked."
The family were taken to hospital for precautionary checks and said they "have lost everything" due to smoke damage following the fire.
The mum-of-three said: "Us grown ups are still in shock, we feel like it's a nightmare and we're going to wake up. My eldest daughter is getting counselling in school as she broke down and has she lost everything."
She added: "All of her childhood memories have gone."
Ieva and her family were dealt more heartbreak as her cat, named UFO, did not survive the fire and died from suffocation. The 30-year-old said her beloved pet was "like another child".
The family were put up in a hotel following the blaze. A GoFundMe page has been set up by Barry Marsden, who runs Mindset Matters - a non-profit community interest company which provides physical and emotional support to adults and children, to help the family.
Speaking about the incident, Barry said: "Ieva said within one second of the bang the whole wall was up in flames. She run in and grabbed the kids and didn't know what to do with herself, it was a nightmare."
"Ieva was covered in soot, the kids were covered in soot. They had no shoes or socks [...], they brought the cat out and told them all your stuff is ruined, all your clothes are ruined, you've lost everything."
Writing on the GoFundMe page, Barry said: "Hi, our names are Kirsty and Barry from Mindset Matters NW CIC, we are looking for any donations to help Ieva and her family. They have lost all belongings in a house fire today they have two young children.
"As a community we are doing all we can to help, but with your help to we can make life that little bit better. Ieva sadly lost her cat called UFO in the fire, as you can see on the photo she has the cat in her arms.
"It is such a sad time, the children are fine but at hospital getting checked with further. Please anything you could spare would be with great kindness to this family as our hearts go out to them all."
Ieva shared her huge appreciation to Barry, Kirsty and the community for their help.
A spokesperson for Merseyside Fire and Rescue said: "Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service attended at flat fire on June 12. Crews were alerted at 11.26am and on scene at 11.32am. Three fire engines attended.
"Crews arrived to find a three-storey building with the first floor involved in fire. Four fire fighters entered and began fighting the fire with two high pressure hose reels.
"The occupants were out of the building at 11.46am and treated by crews for slight smoke inhalation. The causalities were handed over to North West Ambulance Service on their arrival to be transported to hospital.
"Crews remained on scene to ventilate the property and check for fire spread. Crews handed the incident over to Merseyside Police and left the scene at 2.18pm."
A spokesperson for Merseyside Police said: "According to our logs this fire is not believed to be suspicious at this time - all occupants were safely evacuated from the premises and a fire investigation is under way."
To donate to the GoFundMe page, please click here.
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