A WATCHET family whose home went up in flames said they have been amazed by the incredible support they have received from the community to help them get back on their feet.

The Mitcham family were fortunately away from their house in Woollams Place when an electrical fire broke out in the basement at 9pm on Wednesday, September 16.

The intense blaze destroyed everything inside and took around 50 firefighters nearly eight hours to get under control.

Father Ian Mitcham, his wife Tina Andrews, and their three children Honey, 10, Alfie, 8 and two-year-old daughter Summer were out walking the dog only to return home to find the smoke alarm going off.

“I couldn't really see anything, but when I opened the back door a mass of black smoke came out and I realised it was a serious fire,” Mr Mitcham said.

Mr Mitcham’s first instinct was to get his neighbour Ian Human out, before phoning 999.

“I think it was quite traumatic for the children as we parked the car in our space and they were literally watching the house burn down,” he said.

“The poor fireman, they said it was one of the most intense heat fires they had ever attended, caused because of where it was.

“The doors were all shut so the basement acted as a fireplace and the stairwell was the chimney, and as soon as I opened the back door I gave it oxygen and it just went ‘whoosh’,” Mr Mitcham added.

The family lost everything in the fire but have been supported closely by the community, and are currently staying in a fully-furnished flat in Causeway Terrace.

“The reaction in the community has been absolutely amazing. The determination from the town has been to say 'Don't give up', they've actually given me the confidence not to go into a black, dark hole and get depressed and think it’s all over,” Mr Mitcham said.

“You couldn't put that in a bag and sell it, it’s incredible. When I go the school with the kids there's umpteen mums and dads offering to help or donating things.”

Mr Mitcham, a bike mechanic, is planning to set up a shop in Watchet but has had to delay his plans.

The community generosity was evident when Mr Mitcham was speaking to The Gazette on Tuesday evening, as mid-interview a neighbour popped over to donate a bike for him to sell with an estimated worth around £200.

“Although I am obviously devastated, the important thing is nobody was hurt, not even the dog. I can't thank the heroic firefighters and the local community enough for their help. I don't think there is anywhere I've been that has got such a community spirit,” Mr Mitcham said.

For more information about supporting go to the Watchet Family Home Fire Plea page on Facebook or donate https://crowdfunding.justgiving.com/help-Ian-and-Tina.