The matriarch of a 15-member family in Waterhouse, St Andrew, that was left homeless after fire destroyed their four-bedroom house, is appealing for help, especially for her six grandchildren who lost all their school supplies in the blaze.

Verona Smalling, 67, who was at home on Verna Road when the fire started about 4:00 pm Wednesday, said she was not able to save anything of value because of how fast the fire engulfed the property.

“Nothing nuh save, only a barrel. Everything burn up, everything,” she told the Jamaica Observer.

Consequently, Smalling said: “We are asking for help, especially for the children who do not have any clothes to go to school right now. Only God knows how wi a guh manage right now.“

According to Smalling, the cause of the fire is a mystery.

“Mi siddung inna mi room and when mi look, mi see di settee pon fire. I run and a call, and all me a call nobody nuh ansa. Mi one go and ketch little water and as mi throw it, the fire go higher and higher,” she recalled.

Smalling said people later came to her assistance, but by then it was too late.

However, she said she is grateful that no one was injured as her five-year-old grandson, Everton Grey, who was inside the house sleeping, narrowly escaped harm.

The blaze was put out by three units from the Trench Town, Half-Way-Tree and York Park fire stations.