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Couple lose everything in blaze | Couple lose everything in blaze |
(30 minutes later) | |
A couple have lost "a whole lifetime of possessions" in a storage depot fire. | A couple have lost "a whole lifetime of possessions" in a storage depot fire. |
Irene and Bill Stewart only found out about the Portlethen fire when they saw the story on the BBC Scotland news website. | Irene and Bill Stewart only found out about the Portlethen fire when they saw the story on the BBC Scotland news website. |
Mrs Stewart, 48, who is due to start chemotherapy in January, said most of their possessions had been in storage as they waited for a home to be built. | Mrs Stewart, 48, who is due to start chemotherapy in January, said most of their possessions had been in storage as they waited for a home to be built. |
She said: "Furniture can be replaced but family photos cannot. I still feel numb." | She said: "Furniture can be replaced but family photos cannot. I still feel numb." |
A removal company has been attempting to contact hundreds of families whose personal belongings were lost in the fire. | A removal company has been attempting to contact hundreds of families whose personal belongings were lost in the fire. |
It was disbelief - we have lost everything. It won't be much of a Christmas Irene Stewart | It was disbelief - we have lost everything. It won't be much of a Christmas Irene Stewart |
The fire at the Clark and Rose warehouse in Portlethen destroyed a building being used to store many personal items. | The fire at the Clark and Rose warehouse in Portlethen destroyed a building being used to store many personal items. |
Manager Stephen Levitt said they were making "strenuous efforts" to contact all those affected. | Manager Stephen Levitt said they were making "strenuous efforts" to contact all those affected. |
An investigation is now under way into how the fire started on Saturday. | An investigation is now under way into how the fire started on Saturday. |
Mrs Stewart, who is staying in Ellon with her daughter, told the BBC Scotland news website: "We had been out and about on Saturday and my husband went onto the BBC news website and saw the fire. | Mrs Stewart, who is staying in Ellon with her daughter, told the BBC Scotland news website: "We had been out and about on Saturday and my husband went onto the BBC news website and saw the fire. |
"It was disbelief, I still feel numb - we have lost everything. | "It was disbelief, I still feel numb - we have lost everything. |
"The only things we have are the few things we had in our daughter's flat. It's a whole lifetime of possessions that cannot be replaced." | "The only things we have are the few things we had in our daughter's flat. It's a whole lifetime of possessions that cannot be replaced." |
Home delayed | Home delayed |
She estimated the value of the items lost as between £60,000 and £100,000. | She estimated the value of the items lost as between £60,000 and £100,000. |
Mrs Stewart added that their possessions should not even still have been in storage, but she said the completion of their new home had been late. | Mrs Stewart added that their possessions should not even still have been in storage, but she said the completion of their new home had been late. |
She said: "It won't be much of a Christmas." | She said: "It won't be much of a Christmas." |
The roof of the building collapsed [Pic: Ken Watson] | The roof of the building collapsed [Pic: Ken Watson] |
Grampian Fire and Rescue Service said eight appliances and three support vehicles went to the scene after it was reported at 1140 GMT. | Grampian Fire and Rescue Service said eight appliances and three support vehicles went to the scene after it was reported at 1140 GMT. |
The fire was brought under control by 1430 GMT. No one is believed to have been hurt. | The fire was brought under control by 1430 GMT. No one is believed to have been hurt. |
BBC website reader Dr Yasmin Conway, from Kettering, wrote in and said: "My sympathy to the people involved here - I know how it feels. Last year, a few weeks before Christmas, the exact same thing happened to us and 50 others at a storage warehouse. | BBC website reader Dr Yasmin Conway, from Kettering, wrote in and said: "My sympathy to the people involved here - I know how it feels. Last year, a few weeks before Christmas, the exact same thing happened to us and 50 others at a storage warehouse. |
"I would advise the people who lost their possessions in the fire in Aberdeen to make sure they get together any documents relating to the storage contract and the insurance. | "I would advise the people who lost their possessions in the fire in Aberdeen to make sure they get together any documents relating to the storage contract and the insurance. |
"We and the 50 others who lost their possessions are, a year on, still waiting for the money because the removal company turned out to be woefully under-insured. It looks now as if we will have to go to court for this as there is no consumer protection." | "We and the 50 others who lost their possessions are, a year on, still waiting for the money because the removal company turned out to be woefully under-insured. It looks now as if we will have to go to court for this as there is no consumer protection." |