Problems with a Hamilton fire engine and a string of emergencies within hours of each other meant an out-of-town reserve tender was called to a blazing home in the city, it has been revealed.Wayne Caines, the Minister of National Security, explained that a back-up truck in Warwick was ordered to attend a blaze in Pembroke — about a short drive away from the Fire Station on King Street.The fire on Union Street on December 7 cost a family of seven, including well-known para-sportsman Omar Hayward, their home and belongings.Businesses, support agencies and members of the community have since rallied round to help.Mr Caines said: “For a family to lose their home right before Christmas is most disturbing. I am aware that when notification was received of this incident, fire service personnel and equipment were already attending two previously reported fire-related events. “As such, the fire service was in the unusual circumstances of having to manage three significant fire-related emergencies over a relatively short eight-hour period. “Furthermore, the Hamilton Fire Station duty vehicle experienced mechanical problems which prevented its use.”Mr Caines added: “In these circumstances, fire service personnel immediately switch to the reserve vehicle, a process that involves transferring essential pieces of equipment between vehicles and increases the time to respond. “As a result of this unfortunate combination of events, and in efforts to have fire-suppression equipment attend this incident as soon as possible, the standby fire service vehicle located in Warwick was ordered.“It arrived at the scene 12 minutes after the initial call, followed shortly thereafter, by the Hamilton fire service vehicle.”Mr Caines said: “Considering these facts, I have full confidence that the men and women of the Bermuda Fire and Rescue Service were committed to attend the scene of this incident as swiftly and safely as possible.“An investigation into the cause of this fire is ongoing and further details will be revealed.”A friend of the Hayward family said: “The fire, of course, got bigger, got more out of control the longer they had to wait for the fire trucks to come on site. It was just a bad equation all around.”Scott Quinn, the Bermuda Fire & Rescue Service staff officer, said that a call about the incident was received at 9.48am on December 7.He added that a fire at the junction of Princess and Elliott streets was reported at 4.05am and five fire engines and 12 firefighters attended the blaze, which was “quickly extinguished”.Firefighters also responded to a boat fire at Chapel of Ease Road in St David’s at about 11.10pm the night before.Mr Quinn said: “On arrival Sergeant Kingsley Mundy reported a 32 to 36 foot vessel fully engulfed in flames. He added: “Due to the boat moored approximately 40 feet off shore, private boats were required to get the fire fighters close enough to the boat to extinguish the fire.”Bridget Hayward, who lived at the Union Street home with her three sons, a daughter-in-law and two grandchildren, told The Royal Gazette last week that she had “lost everything”.No one was hurt in the fire and the Bermuda Housing Corporation found temporary accommodation for the family.The Green family, owners of the Hamilton Princess and Beach Club, donated $10,000 to help the Haywards after their plight was highlighted in The Royal Gazette.A spokeswoman for the family said this week: “It is the season of giving and the Green family is pleased to have been able to play a part in helping a local family get back on their feet.“They hope that others will be inspired to help out or to support their community in other ways throughout the holidays.”The MarketPlace gave the family a $250 grocery gift card as well as a hamper filled with cookware, utensils, cutlery, plates, bed sheets and other necessities.Seth Stutzman, the MarketPlace president, said: “This is the most wonderful time of the year, a time for giving and helping the community that we serve. “When tragedy struck in the way that it did the Haywards, The MarketPlace family felt the urge to provide support to this family in great need.”Roxanne Christopher, a past president of the Jamaican Association, said her organisation planned to hold more fundraisers. She added: “It’s a lot of stuff that we take for granted that they don’t have.”• Update: this story has been updated to reflect that Ms Christopher is a past president of the Jamaican Association.