A MOTHER says she has lost everything after a fire destroyed the family's home in the middle of the night. 

Chelsea Torpey, 33, believes she saved her family's and her own life on May 17, when a horrible fire destroyed her home in Alexandra Street, Harwich. 

A gut feeling told her not to go home after a visit to her mum’s on the night of the incident. 

She said: “I was at my mum's and was going to go back to my house that night but something gave me a belly ache like not to stay there so I returned back to my mum's house. 

Harwich and Manningtree Standard: Aftermath - Firefighters at the scene in Alexandra Street, HarwichAftermath - Firefighters at the scene in Alexandra Street, Harwich (Image: Essex County Fire and Rescue Service)

“I then got a call at 1.15am in the morning saying I needed to get to my house it’s on fire, so I went down there, and it was in flames. 

“I was devastated and heartbroken. I had lost everything.

“I had so many belongings in there that cost thousands and thousands of pounds. I lost all my kids’ clothes and toys. 

“I’ve never felt heartache like it. I’m not one to ask for help I’ve raised my children by myself and brought them everything they need. 

Harwich and Manningtree Standard: Family - Chelsea's children were heartbroken when they learnt all their things were destroyedFamily - Chelsea's children were heartbroken when they learnt all their things were destroyed (Image: Chelsea Torpey)

“My kids were heartbroken, too, and I feel for my kids more than anyone else.” 

When Chelsea arrived at the scene, firefighters, police officers and ambulance staff were close by as the flames destroyed her home where she was living with her children Frankie-Jay, Lilly-May, Honey-May and Bentley-Troy.  

“The next day I asked the firemen if anything could be saved, he then said, ‘I’m so sorry, there is nothing worth saving’," she said. 

Crews from Dovercourt, Manningtree and Colchester were able to extinguish the fire by 3.18am.

The cause for the fire was found to be accidental or deliberate after an investigation. 

Harwich and Manningtree Standard: Mother - Chelsea, 33, lost everything in the fireMother - Chelsea, 33, lost everything in the fire (Image: Chelsea Torpey)

Station Manager Quentin Sage: "Crews did a brilliant job of stopping the fire from spreading to the houses on either side. If it wasn't for their swift actions, the fire would have reached the loft and affected two more properties. 

"No-one was at the property when the fire started, however, smoke alarms were sounding when crews entered so occupants would have been alerted had they been at home." 

Her sister, Mercedes, has now started a fundraiser to support her sister and her family, to get back on their feet after the terrible incident.