The Somerset mother of two who lost everything in a house fire three weeks ago has said no words could describe how grateful she and her family were for donations from the community.

Bernette Woolridge and her two children had to run for their lives on July 3 when their two-storey apartment on Broome Street was torched.

Within minutes the entire downstairs area had been destroyed and Ms Woolridge, who works as a 911 dispatcher at the Bermuda Fire Service, watched as her colleagues extinguished the flames.

Smoke damage to the rest of the house meant that very little could be saved.

Now the family are eager to move into their new home and pick up the pieces.

"But I could never have done it without donations from the public and local businesses," she said.

Ms Woolridge had no insurance and made a heartfelt appeal for second-hand clothing and furniture.

The Bermuda Fire Service set aside a room at the Hamilton station for donations and the next day furniture, clothing and even cash started flowing in.

By the end of the second week the room was bursting at the seams and she had to make an appeal for donations to stop.

"I've been making so many phone calls thanking people, I have a sore throat."

She said she was overwhelmed at times by the generosity of Bermudians and local businesses including It's a Plus, Gibbons Company and New Life which put clothing aside for her and her family. Many of the Island's churches also made donations.

"Bermudians are so supportive, helpful and giving and these are people I don't even know," she said, adding that sometimes she just burst into tears.

"I did not think I was worthy of any of this."

She added that a lot of people made anonymous donations.

"I just wanted to thank them. I've set aside an account at the bank and we'll use these funds to rebuild our lives," she said.

She said some items came in that they could not use, like baby clothing, but she was hoping to put them aside for a container to Grenada or Jamaica in order to help someone else in return.

But, she said, her life had been changed forever because of the fire, which she believes was started deliberately.

"I still wake up at night to check the windows and look outside," she said.

She said her estranged husband was arrested, but he was released because of insufficient evidence.

"It's different when you're working in the position where you deal with these things...when it happens to you. Now when I have people phoning me and they're hysterical, I can visualise what they are going through," she said.

The family will be moving into their new home in August.