A mum is is facing the risk of being homeless just days before Christmas after her house went "up in flames".
Toni Shield, 35, went out to meet her friends at 6.10pm on Wednesday, December 21, when she began receiving a flurry of phone calls from people on her street at Craigside Avenue, West Derby. After answering the phone to one of her neighbours, she was told her house was "up in flames", causing her to rush back home.
The mum's home, where she lives with her two children aged five and 11, was attended to by Merseyside Fire and Rescue after receiving a 999 call at 7.48pm from people on the street. Three fire engines arrived within five minutes of the call and firefighters discovered the ground floor of the property was lit up.
Speaking to the Liverpool Echo, Toni said: " My neighbour told me she heard a bang when the windows blew out. Another person from across the street was trying to put it out with a fire extinguisher but the flames were coming out of the window.
"I had literally just bought the kids presents and they were on the couch ready to be wrapped that night. I had saved up all year and bought thousands of pounds of presents, a TV for their room, iPhones, everything.
"Now my home is gone, I don't have insurance and I'm basically homeless. Not one person in my family will be getting a present off me this year."
The street was sealed off by police who told Toni they were unsure if the fire was the result of an electrical fault or arson. A further investigation into the fire will be carried out today (December 22), according to the police.
"I can't think of a reason anybody would want to set my house on fire, I'm just a normal girl living a normal life who is trying to be a good mum," Toni said. "With the cost of living crisis I'm really careful with my electric, the only thing I can think of is I might have left the lamp on."
"My daughter was at my mum's house and came running to see what was going on when everybody found out. She was really emotional about it all.
"I think I'm in shock at the moment. I've lived here since I was 21 and don't really have a lot. But now all my furniture has gone, everything has gone."
Toni stayed at her mum's house overnight and is waiting to hear about where she will be able to live over the coming days. Meanwhile, her friends are looking into setting up a GoFundMe page for her.
A spokesperson from Merseyside Fire and Rescue said: "Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service was called to Craigside Avenue, Liverpool L12, on Wednesday 21st December. Crews were alerted at 7.48pm and on scene at 7.53pm. Three fire engines attended.
"On arrival crews found a fire on the ground floor of a property. Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus entered the property and used high pressure hose reel jets to extinguish the fire. All persons were accounted for.
"Fire crews left the scene at 10.19pm. An investigation into the fire will be carried out in due course."
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