MORE than £500 has been raised so far for Vale families who fled a blaze that ravaged their homes last week.

Jacqueline Fotheringham, 50, from Tullichewan, said the local community has rallied to help two families who are currently waiting to hear what is salvageable from a fire that ripped through their McColl Avenue home in the early hours of Friday, August 12.

“The families are going through hell but the response has been overwhelming,” Ms. Fotheringham said.

“Every day folk are coming to the door and leaving stuff.

“There's one child minder, Lorraine Duncan, who has two kids of her own, and was watching another two. She took them into Dumbarton, gave them a fiver each to spend, and they all spent it on stuff for the families.”

The blaze started in the home of George McIntosh and his sons, Shaun and Andrew, and spread to the McLaughlin's home next door. The Reported recently wrote about their daughter, Zoe, who was fundraising for a power wheelchair to let her play football.

Fire services spent eight hours extinguishing the fire and checking for structural damage.

Firefighters were called at 6.10am on Friday morning and had the blaze under control by 7.30am. However, the home suffered “significant” damage.

A spokesperson for Scottish Fire and Rescue said: “We received the first of several 999 calls at 6.10am on Friday morning.

"Crews were immediately sent from Balloch and Dumbarton fire stations. Firefighters found a well developed fire within a property. Teams and breathing apparatus were sent in, and they tackled the flames using two high pressure jets.

“The building sustained significant damage and fire requested building control officers and housing representatives attend the scene.”

After extinguishing the fire, crews, searched for any hidden fire within the structure with a thermal imaging camera. They later left the scene at around 4pm.

Dunbritton Housing Association (DHA) are currently helping the families and waiting on insurers to investigate the extent of the damage.

A spokesperson said: “DHA staff are currently supporting the families involved.

“The fire resulted in substantial damage to the property and insurers are now investigating the cause and what works are required to reinstate the property.”

Anyone who wishes to help the McIntosh or McLaughlin family can leave donations at 12 Kirkpatrick Crescent, Alexandria.