A hairdresser has lost everything in a devastating house fire caused by a candle.
Tash Lyall, 28, told the ECHO she was enjoying a day off from her job as a hairdresser when the blaze broke out at her Bootle home. She is now hoping to raise awareness of the dangers of candles.
Tash said: "I'd been doing the usual thing of blitzing the house and I put a candle on. I nipped downstairs to make a coffee and about ten minutes later heard my partner shouting me. The whole upstairs was full of smoke."
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Tash, who has two cats, believes one of the animals knocked a candle over. She said that by the time the emergency services arrived, the fire was "roaring".
She added: "We were in and out making sure the cats were out and getting the car keys to move the vehicles out of the way.
"We were just stood watching the house burn from outside. We live in a close estate and one neighbour has a three-week-old baby and the other is eight months pregnant.
"I felt so guilty for putting everyone in danger and putting them in that position. The neighbours were out helping us.
"The fire service got there within three minutes - we're so lucky. They went straight in and had it out within half an hour. They're unbelievable, they don't get enough recognition."
She added: "It was terrifying. I was relieved at them coming so quickly. I had to go to hospital after inhaling smoke."
Tash lives with her mum Karen, a psychotherapist and counsellor. They're both self-employed and have had to take time off work in the aftermath of the blaze.
Tash added: "My mum had gone on holiday that morning. I'm gutted this happened to my mum. It's her home and she's worked so hard for that house. I want to spread the word and tell people to get rid of candles and just use diffusers."
Best friend Joss Gerrard has set up a Gofundme page to help Tash and her family following the fire. Joss told the ECHO: "She's lost everything.
"She's usually always the one smiling and giving. She's like a deer in the headlights."
Speaking of the fundraiser, Tash said: "I wasn't expecting people to get involved, the messages were enough. People have gone out of their way.
"All of my stuff is completely gone but luckily some of my mum's is still in tact. We're trying to salvage what we can. It's a massive, massive help."
To visit the Gofundme page click here.
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