A WOMAN had to evacuate her Rhyl home with her eight-month-old son and partner after a fire started in another flat at the same building she lives in.

Olivia Demilow, 23, was in her Seabank Road home at about 10.30pm on Friday night (May 12) when she began to notice a strong smell of smoke emanating from downstairs in the building.

Her partner was staying with her that night, and when she opened the main door to her flat, a “gust of smoke just hit me”.

A casualty was later taken to hospital, and Olivia and her son, Sebastian, were forced to leave their badly smoke-damaged home.

She has since set up an online donations page on the website “GoFundMe”, in a bid replace to many of her son’s belongings, which she said “just stink of smoke really badly”.

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Olivia, who has lived at her Seabank Road flat since 2017, said: “We didn’t think anything of it at first, but I looked out of the window and noticed that downstairs was full of smoke, so instantly phoned 999.

“I then tried to get out the flat to see how bad it was in the communal area (at about 10.30pm). it was just smoky everywhere. I knew we had to get outside.

“My partner brought the baby out and put him in his car seat in the car, and I evacuated of my own accord.

“The fire brigade then turned up and took over. The tenants on the top floor were made aware and then joined us outside, as well.

“After it all calmed down a bit, I took it upon myself to run upstairs quickly and grab what I could. Luckily, we could stay at my partner’s mums house for the night. Everything’s been so hectic since.”

You can donate to Olivia’s online fundraiser page by visiting: www.gofundme.com/f/p2hecn-house-fire.

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The issues were exacerbated, she added, by the fact that her baby son suffered from pre-existing breathing problems.

Though they should be able to return to the flat, much of the smoke damage caused by the fire is irreparable, particularly to Sebastian’s possessions.

She said: “I’m glad I didn’t go to sleep, because that could have resulted in deaths, including my baby, who had to breath all of that smoke in. He has been checked, and luckily, his lungs are clear.

“I’ve calmed down now, but I was just shocked, more than anything, at the situation. The smoke damage to the flat is quite bad; we’re having to basically replace everything of my baby’s.

“It all just stinks of smoke really badly, and putting them in the wash won’t get rid of that. We might have to replace a lot of things, which is why I started the GoFundMe.

“Any donation will be much appreciated to help me get my little family back on track and replace what has been damaged, and to go towards a deposit for somewhere new to live.”

Reaching out to support Olivia was the Rhyl-based non-profit organisation “Belief”, who made another generous donation following the fire.

Steve Evans, founding member of the fundraising group, gave Olivia £250 on behalf of the charity to assist her in replacing her family’s smoke-damaged items.

He said: “We were so sorry to hear about the fire and the terrible ordeal Olivia and her young family went through.

“As always in situations like this, Belief try and get an immediate cash donation to the family in order to help with immediate essentials.”

Olivia added her appreciation, saying: “Steve gave me a very, very lovely donation and I’m so grateful for that.

“With that money, we’ll be buying the necessary items we need instantly, like a new cot, and baby clothes.”

Fire crews, paramedics and police officers are all believed to have attended the incident on May 12, with one person conveyed to Ysbyty Glan Clwyd, Bodelwyddan.

North Wales Fire and Rescue Service described the incident as an “accidental flat fire”.