A family has been left with nothing but the clothes on their backs after a devastating fire tore through their home in the early hours of Friday morning.
The blaze ripped through the Foales’ property on Highland Lakes Road in Melton Mowbray around 4am, completely destroying it.
Veronica Foale, who runs a soap and body products business from the address, was woken by a smoke alarm and came out of her bedroom to find the bathroom on fire.
She quickly got her children out of the home to safety, but was unable to douse the flames.
A 12-year-old girl was treated for smoke inhalation.
A GoFundMe campaign has since been launched by family friend Samantha Wade to help them get back on their feet.
“This was not just a house that has been lost,” she said.
“It was a rescue haven for cats and kittens that Veronica fostered to give them a second chance at life.”
“It was Veronica’s place of business where she has run her soap studio for the past 10 years and the family home of all three kids.”
“All donations received will be sent directly to the family so they can restart from scratch and to rebuild their lives.”
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
The cats kept at the property were safely picked up by a vet.
