Fundraising campaign exceeds £7,000 following kebab shop fire

A fundraising initiative established to support a small business and nearby residents affected by a building fire has accumulated over £7,000. The blaze originated at a kebab shop situated on Northgate Street in Devizes, Wiltshire, on Tuesday morning. Local resident Kayleigh Sainsbury initiated the fundraiser and has since elevated the financial goal from £5,000 to £10,000, following the discovery that adjacent flats were also impacted. She stated that the shop owner and employees, who reside above the premises and have lost “everything,” are “just really lovely people – they’re so well known around Devizes.” Although no injuries were reported in the incident, it is thought that the business proprietor lost crucial documents. Ms Sainsbury, who is acquainted with the individuals employed at the kebab shop, reported observing the smoke and flames from her residence. She contacted them to ascertain their safety, initially believing only their premises were affected, but subsequently learned that the fire was severe enough to damage adjacent residential buildings. “We’re hoping £10,000 can go a long way,” she remarked, noting the generosity already shown by Devizes residents. She further added, “One the day of incident, a number of people came and donated clothing, towels, toiletries, food, anything they could spare.” The thoroughfare surrounding the structure required closure, and bus stops were relocated due to the fire. At its peak, 30 firefighters utilizing six fire engines were engaged in combating the conflagration. The Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service is conducting an investigation into the origin of the fire.