THE Rosyth family forced to flee their burning home just days before Christmas said the support from the town had "been nothing short of amazing".

Mick and Maureen Kelly will spend the big day in a hotel with their two kids after their house on Hudson Road went up in flames on Friday, December 18.

But their spirits have been lifted by a phenomenal community effort that's seen more than £8,000 raised for them in a matter of days.

Mick, 44, told the Press: "The generosity from locals, friends, businesses, people we don't even know, has been humbling and nothing short of amazing.

"We've been blown away by it."

Maureen, 43, added: "It's a massive thank you to the whole community. People who have nothing themselves have been offering whatever they can; it's so overwhelming to find people care that much.

"I've been getting so many messages through Facebook, even from people I don't know, and it's been very emotional reading such lovely comments.

"I don't even know how we can begin to thank everyone. Gavin, at Rosyth Billboard, set up a Just Giving page with a target of £500 and I think it's at £7,500!

"It's a small community but they've totally rallied round and it's really helped us."

The alarm was raised about 7.30am when their son, Aiden, 15, got up to get ready for school at St Columba's High.

Their daughter, nine-year-old Caitlyn, goes to St John's Primary School.

Maureen said: "He went in the shower and could smell burning so he shouted and I came through.

"The shower cord was black, there were bits of plastic melting and a flame going up the way into the loft.

"We phoned 999 at that point and had to get out of the property.

"I have to say a special thanks as the fire brigade were there very quickly and did everything they could to get the fire under control."

It's likely the blaze was caused by an electrical fault but Mick said that was still to be confirmed by the fire service.

He said: "The whole of the top deck is fire-damaged and the bottom of the house is water-damaged so there's nothing salvageable.

"We could be out for six months.

"It's tough. It takes a lifetime to build possessions up and we lost a lot of stuff that was personal but everyone is safe and that's the main thing.

"You can whinge about personal possessions but it's nothing compared to when my son had kidney failure a few years back.

"We're not sitting round a hospital bed any more."

Mick, store manager at the Aldi store in Duloch, added: "It's very surreal and it's not been easy for the kids to stand outside at 8am and watch their house on fire.

"It's been pretty traumatic for them so our main focus is on making sure they're OK.

"One of the contractors that came on Saturday got some personal photos out and the fire brigade managed to get some of the kids' Christmas presents, they were wrapped and in a black bag in the cupboard, which was phenomenal.

"Other than that it was literally the clothes we were wearing.

"Everything else was sodden and stinking or smoke-damaged."

The family have stayed in the house for around 17 years – Maureen, who is an account executive for an insurance broker in Kirkcaldy, grew up in a house across the road – and are currently staying in the Double Tree by Hilton Hotel in North Queensferry.

Mick said: "It's nice to stay in a hotel for a weekend break or a wee holiday, and the staff have been brilliant with us, but after a few days it drives you insane so we're trying to find somewhere local to live.

"It's meant to be three weeks but with the COVID changes I'm not sure there'll be any other services in the hotel so we're trying to find a private let in Rosyth or Dunfermline as soon as possible."

Gavin told the Press the response had been "crazy" and said: "The minimum target was £500, I thought that if we could cover any Christmas presents that were lost or give them enough for basic essentials, that'd be something.

"But my email inbox kept pinging and the total kept going up."

Local businesses, such as Enhanced Strength, Wilson Roofing and Wrightline Roadmarkings, have also donated cash and gifts.

Gavin continued: "More than 380 people have taken the time and effort to donate money. It says a lot about this community and it almost got me in tears seeing the generosity of everyone."