Fire wrecks a home and a sixth birthday (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)
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Fire wrecks a home and a sixth birthday
11:19am Thursday 3rd August 2006 in Swindon
BIRTHDAY BLAZE: Lucia Mazzotta and her brother Marco with the charred remains of their front room including Lucia's sixth birthday presents
LITTLE Lucia Mazzotta turned six as her birthday presents were destroyed by fire.
Lucia, her brother Marco and mum Della had to run from their Liden flat as fire ripped through its front room early yesterday, destroying family mementos and furniture.
Ms Mazzotta, 29, said she was devastated by the damage.
Ms Mazzotta said she had redecorated the room less than a month ago, using compensation money given to her for the murder of her dad, Sonny Richardson, who was fatally stabbed in his Park South Home in August 2003.
The front room was yesterday blackened with smoke, ash covered the floor and most of the furniture was badly charred.
The burnt-out shell of the computer, believed to have caused the blaze, sat outside, along with a charred chair and other debris.
Ms Mazzotta said most of Lucia's presents had been destroyed.
The family could only salvage a few new clothes meant for the little girl's big day.
