Strangers and family members have rallied to lend support to a family of five who lost their home and possessions in a fire two days ago.

The Goater family was left homeless after the fire wrecked their home on Old Military Road, St. George's. The cause is still being investigated.

But according to family matriarch, Ruby Goater, all is well with her three children, Jahru, Jakeem and Crystal and her ten-month-old grandson Crysaje.

She said: "We are okay. Practically everything was gone. I managed to save some old pictures that were in a suitcase in a room that was closed off, everything else was pretty smoked out and burned."

Since the fire, Ms Goater has received an outpouring of support from members of the community, including $600 from an unknown church group.

"The public has called and offered to help, money-wise and also with vouchers for clothes," she said.

"The phone has been ringing constantly. I am so happy, I feel blessed. I feel blessed anyways because no one was hurt."

Hours after the fire, the Bermuda Housing Corporation worked to ensure the family would have an emergency home as early as Friday.

It would, however, take months to get their home repaired, and in many ways the family must start over, Ms Goater explained.

"We're starting over again furniture-wise because everything is gone. We have to start from scratch.

"I still feel a bit numb because you see it on television with other people, but you never think it is going to happen to you. Anything is possible.

"When someone called my job and let me know that my house was on fire, it didn't really sink in. I kept working for a few minutes because it didn't sink in, I was shocked," said Ms Goater.

Last night, Ms Goater and her family were able to stay at her daughter Racquel Trott's home. They had to share two rooms but they were "fine". Ms Goater added: "No one was really squished up."

Ms Goater's two school-aged sons 12-year-old Jahru and 10-year-old Jakeem went back to school as normal yesterday and seemed to be handling the tragedy well.

Ms Trott said: "The boys were fine. They had a counsellor speaking to them prior to seeing the house, so they were fine. They were worried about their possessions, as far as their game systems and that, but they handled it pretty well."

Ms Trott also noted the kindness of the community and said: "We had a couple people, strangers, that have reached out as far as clothing, because we're all right for food and accommodation.

"Because it has just happened people were willing to give gift certificates and just pretty much asking what their sizes were so they could get clothes for them. We had family members that gave monetary donations to my mom. I have had some feedback this morning from some family members," she added.