An elderly woman has 'lost everything' after a stray firework ripped through her home last night.
Pauline Perry, 75, was at her home in Norris Green, Liverpool, alone on Friday (5 November) when, unbeknown to her, a firework had landed in her back garden.
Pauline was sitting in her living room at around 7:20pm, when the stray firework caused her rattan furniture to catch fire in her garden.
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The heat from the growing fire caused her patio door to 'pop' bringing Pauline's attention to the blaze outside.
In a bid to move the furniture away from the house, Pauline opened her doors and caused the fire to shoot through her living room and destroy the downstairs of her home.
Neighbour Steve Finlay, who took Pauline in last night after the fire services boarded up her home, said that she had not spotted the growing fire as her curtains had been closed at the time.
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He explained: "After the fire ripped through the living room, the neighbours spotted the flames and ran over to get Pauline out of the house and help."
Four fire engines attended the scene at 7.29pm, six minutes after being alerted about the fire and were able to control the fire by 7.44pm.
Pauline, who is originally from Wolverhampton, moved to Norris Green with her husband around six years ago and has since spoken about how much she 'loves the area' and community.
Sadly, after being admitted to hospital two months ago for sepsis, Pauline's husband passed away after a week leaving her to live alone while her son lives in the Midlands.
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Steve, 68, said: "She was only just readjusting after her husband's passing and then for this to happen - there's just no justice.
"I know Pauline has the same views as me when it comes to fireworks already and that is we should no longer be selling them.
"Only organised displays should be allowed and there should be a stop on selling fireworks to households. It isn't acceptable."
Steve said that the community all came together to help Pauline last night, adding: "We have a great little community but we all just done what normal people would do."
Alistair Smith, a local from a neighbouring street has since set up a GoFundMe page in a bid to raise money to help Pauline get 'back on her feet'.
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He said: "Pauline is okay but just in a bad state. We're hoping to raise some money in the community just to help her through it all - every little helps."
A spokesman for Merseyside Fire and Rescue confirmed that the fire was caused by a stray firework and the incident was not a targeted attack.
They said: "Firefighters arrived to find the ground floor of a two-storey detached property well alight and committed 2 teams of two firefighters, with a hose reel jet each, one team fighting fire, the other searching the house for occupants.
"One occupant was out of the property when crews arrived and an ambulance was requested for precautionary checks.
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"The fire was under control by 7.44pm and crews continued to search the building before firefighting ceased at 8.04pm. Crews continued to damp down and remained on scene until 9.48pm.
"An investigation revealed that the fire had been caused by a stray firework igniting garden furniture which had then spread to the property. "
Featured Image Credit: LIVERPOOL ECHOTopics: UK Community, Fire, Community, UK