Nearly £7,000 has been donated to help families waiting to be rehomed after they were made homeless by a huge fire.

Residents from 21 flats in Balmoral Road, Borehamwood, have been placed in temporary accommodation since the blaze ripped through their block last Friday (August 12).

Brett Rosehill, who has been a Conservative councillor in Kenilworth ward since 2020, said he instinctively contacted local charity groups after hearing the news to see how the community could help those who lost their homes.

This Is Local London: Firefighters tackling the fire in the afternoonFirefighters tackling the fire in the afternoon

Since then, he has been working with groups including WD6 Food Support, Sebbys Corner, Gratitude and Borehamwood Foodbank, as well as talking to those affected to see what type of help they need.

He said: “At the moment a majority of them are in hotel accommodation until longer accommodation can be sorted - unfortunately most of Borehamwood is booked up hotel-wise.”

The councillor explained that everyone involved is trying “desperately” to stop people from having to seek temporary accommodation outside Borehamwood.

This Is Local London: Cllr Brett Rosehill at Borehamwood FoodbankCllr Brett Rosehill at Borehamwood Foodbank

He said: “It’s a horrible situation, it must be so stressful and I can see that in their eyes.

“It’s the fact that they had to run out so quickly and just take their phone or whatever, knowing they probably will never go back in there again.”

Local councillors and volunteers are trying to speak to the families on a one-to-one basis to cater to their specific needs.

Cllr Rosehill continued: “It’s like a constant moving beast of trying to make sure every single resident is helped as best as possible and is not stressed during this period.”

This Is Local London: Firefighters at the sceneFirefighters at the scene

A fire started close to the flats just before 3.30pm, before spreading to the main building and causing extensive damage, police say.

Detective Inspector Beth Hanna explained that officers believe a bonfire started close to the flat caused the fire, however the force is “fully investigating” what happened.

An appeal has been launched for anyone with information or footage of the fire to come forward.

Police can be contacted by emailing charlotte.hartley@herts.pnn.police.uk or visiting herts.police.uk/report or calling 101 quoting crime reference 41/64719/22.

To help families affected by the fire, visit: https://gofund.me/99314998