Fire-hit family spent Christmas together at repaired home

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Ten months after a fire gutted their Till’s Hill residence, a grateful family was happy to spend the holidays back home again.

“That was my Christmas present, and the girls’ as well,” said Court Street resident Andrene Bean, speaking of daughters Allanna, Tiffany and Maya. “I told them, ‘This is your Christmas gift’, and we just enjoyed being back home.”

The smell of smoke is gone, she added: “You would never realise there was a fire; they did a good job fixing the place.”

The Island rallied to assist after the March 1 blaze tore through the home and destroyed the family’s possessions.

Neighbours, police and companies donated food, furniture and clothing.

“I get calls now and then from people checking up on us,” Ms Bean added.

The family isn’t completely out of the woods yet: minor repairs remain to the lower level of the home. But the bulk of the job was taken care of taken care of by the year’s end.

Said Ms Bean: “We’re doing good. Right now biggest concern is getting as much work done as I can and saving money, to get my daughter off to school.”

Ms Bean’s daughter Allanna, graduates from high school in a few months and is to attend Johnson and Wales University in Rhode Island.

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