overwhelming support of the community.

Mrs. Olive Trott and her husband, Mr. Kenneth Trott, have been forced to rent a place to live since the fire in their apartment ten days ago.

The blaze, which started due to a faulty heater in the guest room, caused extensive damage to their apartment, above Richardson's Restaurant, on North Shore Road.

Only an hour before, the couple's niece and nephew Miss Sandy Lovell and Mr.

Elworth Lovell, had been in the room.

Yesterday, Mrs. Trott, who owns the restaurant, said the support of the community had been overwhelming.

She said last Sunday a collection was held for them at the Church of Christ, in Devonshire, which raised $1,400. Calls have also been pouring in from overseas as well as locally.

"Everyone has been rallying around us. I am just beginning to realise how many people have been caring and praying for us,'' added Mrs. Trott.

Decorators are currently working on the apartment and are expected to be there for at least another week.

Mrs. Trott added: "I was in the restaurant when someone said they could smell smoke. I rushed outside and saw my husband coming down the steps from the apartment.

"I went up and saw smoke billowing out of the windows. Both Kenneth and I went inside, but you could see nothing, it was all black smoke, then some neighbours came and got us out.''