Work colleagues, friends and Courier readers rallied around to assist Charmaine Fitzpatrick, who lost her husband, Tyron, in a horror house fire in Glencoe last week.

Charmaine lost all her possession when the Mimosa Street house went up in flames in the early hours of last Sunday. At least two gas bottles exploded while police were on the scene, extensively damaging the structure. Tyron (43) could not be retrieved from the house, and suffered fatal burns. Charmaine was also treated in hospital. 

She is in desperate need of clothing and other goods. Even her car keys melted in the fire, and her jewellery was scorched even though it was in a safe.
Her employers, Dundee Office Machines, have opened a FNB savings account into which Courier readers can donate money to help Charmaine get back on her feet.

The account number is 6248 8839 831. Colleagues Antoinette Storbeck and Dinah Claasen said, because Charmaine has suffered a terrible tragedy, the least they could do was to help raise money to help ease her burden.

“People have come forward with clothing and other goods. Our telephone was ringing off the hook from customers wanting to know how Charmaine is doing. Our suppliers are also assisting with raising money,” said Antoinette. Charmaine, who is currently staying with her daughter in Glencoe, has worked at Dundee Office Machines for 14 years.