This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/uk-northern-ireland-16333520

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
West Belfast family left homeless by Christmas day fire West Belfast family left homeless by Christmas day fire
(40 minutes later)
A young mother and her six children have been left homeless after a fire destroyed their west Belfast house on Christmas Day. A young mother and her six children have been left homeless after a fire destroyed their west Belfast house at lunch-time on Christmas Day.
Eileen Wilson, 33, and her children were visiting relatives when the blaze gutted their Moyard Parade home.Eileen Wilson, 33, and her children were visiting relatives when the blaze gutted their Moyard Parade home.
Their possessions were all destroyed, including presents and a pet snake that one of the children got for Christmas.Their possessions were all destroyed, including presents and a pet snake that one of the children got for Christmas.
"Everything was ruined. I had got tvs and phones, everything they asked for and it was ruined," said Ms Wilson."Everything was ruined. I had got tvs and phones, everything they asked for and it was ruined," said Ms Wilson.
"I was at my father's. Somebody phoned over and said that the house was on fire. We came over and it was gutted. There was nothing left in the house at all.""I was at my father's. Somebody phoned over and said that the house was on fire. We came over and it was gutted. There was nothing left in the house at all."
Since the fire destroyed everything in the house, the local community have got together to support the family which includes four boys and two girls aged from 15 years to nine months.Since the fire destroyed everything in the house, the local community have got together to support the family which includes four boys and two girls aged from 15 years to nine months.
One resident said up to £1,000 had already been raised.One resident said up to £1,000 had already been raised.
Ms Watson and her baby son are currently staying with neighbours - her other children are staying with relatives.Ms Watson and her baby son are currently staying with neighbours - her other children are staying with relatives.
"The community has rallied around. £300 was raised on Christmas night and toys were collected for the kids so that they would have something to play with," said Sinn Fein MLA Pat Sheehan."The community has rallied around. £300 was raised on Christmas night and toys were collected for the kids so that they would have something to play with," said Sinn Fein MLA Pat Sheehan.
"The house was very badly damaged. The Fire Service said that, had anybody been upstairs, they would have had great difficulty getting out."The house was very badly damaged. The Fire Service said that, had anybody been upstairs, they would have had great difficulty getting out.
"We could have had a complete catastrophe had the fire broken out in the middle of the night with all the kids in bed. Thankfully that didn't happen. The house is destroyed, all the furniture is destroyed, all the kids' presents are gone."We could have had a complete catastrophe had the fire broken out in the middle of the night with all the kids in bed. Thankfully that didn't happen. The house is destroyed, all the furniture is destroyed, all the kids' presents are gone.
"It was bad, but we can be thankful we are not wakening up to a catastrophic situation where people were killed.""It was bad, but we can be thankful we are not wakening up to a catastrophic situation where people were killed."
It is understood that the blaze started in the kitchen. The Fire and Rescue Service believe the fire began accidentally because of a fault with a kitchen appliance - [possibly a fridge or a tumble dryer.
But the Fire and Rescue Service are still working to establish how it began. Two fire appliances attended the scene after a call at 1330 GMT on Sunday.
People who can offer clothes or household items have been asked to bring them to the Upper Springfield Resource Centre on the Whiterock Road, Belfast, between 14:00 GMT and 16:00 GMT on Tuesday. Substantial fire damage was caused to the ground floor of the house and there was smoke damage in other parts of the house.
Meanwhile, people who can offer clothes or household items to the family have been asked to bring them to the Upper Springfield Resource Centre on the Whiterock Road, Belfast, between 14:00 GMT and 16:00 GMT on Tuesday.