Devastated Widow Returns Home from Husband's Funeral Just to Find Out She Has Nowhere to Live

A grieving woman had been mourning her husband at his funeral when she was alerted about her burning house. The flames ravaged the building for hours and even spread to the neighbor's home before firefighters were able to get it under control.

Lightning does not strike a place twice, they say; but sometimes, tragedy does. Julie Lane's story is proof of that, but it has also shone some light on humanity and how important family bonds are.

When Julie Lane lost her husband, Chris, she thought her world had ended. Losing someone she loved and had a child with was an unimaginable experience, but that's what had happened to this poor woman.

Lane joined her relatives and other well-wishers to honor Chris's passing at a funeral held two miles away at Reading Cemetery Crematorium.

Unfortunately, while Lane was trying to come to terms with the fact that her husband was really gone, a fire broke out in the home she had shared with her late husband.

The smoke was visible since they were just two miles away, and someone at the funeral stated that it was coming from the direction of Lane's home.

THERE WAS A WAVE OF DESTRUCTION

A Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service (RBFRS) spokesperson said they received calls informing them of a fire in Woodley at 2:21 p.m. on Tuesday, July 19.

As soon as the call was received, several RBFRS teams and crews from Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service were dispatched to the scene. They met a domestic fire that had spread to two buildings.

The firefighters quickly evacuated two people from the houses, then the crew set to work putting out the flames using six hose reel jets. The fire burned and resisted for up to six hours before dying down.

The fire that destroyed the two houses has been reported to be one among several wildfires that broke out in the record-breaking 104.54°F heatwave the UK weathered on that day.

According to MailOnline, about 19 homes in Wennington, East London, were affected by the flames, with some families claiming that they lost everything in the disaster.

The fires at Wennington were the most destructive of Tuesday's major fire incidents. There were as many as 63 properties gutted across the UK, including 14 in Dagenham.

Outside London, a total of eighteen houses were destroyed by wildfire. They were all located within Barnsley, South Yorkshire, Maltby, Rotherham, Kiveton Park, and Clayton, West Yorkshire.

Some drone footage also captured firefighters fighting a wildfire to prevent its spread to other buildings in Brancaster Staithe near Watton in Norfolk. Authorities estimate that five homes were lost to it.

The whole country seemed to have been experiencing a destructive wave, but it was more than double the tragedy for Lane. Not only did she not have a husband, but she was also homeless, and everything that could have reminded her of the man she raised a family with was lost to ashes. She said:

“It is the worst you can imagine, but then double it.”

But she knows it could be worse, which is why she added, "But I still in my heart think there are people worse off than me. I have a loving family around me."

HELP FOUND HER

What caused the fire outbreak at Lane's home is unknown; however, with help from her family, neighbors, and random individuals on the internet, Lane will be fine.

Her son Alex Honor-Lane and his partner Megan Warren set up a GoFundMe to help her. They set the target as £250 {$300}, but it has reached over £16,955 {$20,404}. Alex said:

“Please if anyone can help my poor mum and wonderful neighbours at this time it would be much appreciated. There are no words, just an unbelievable day.”

Megan, who was instrumental in setting up the fundraising page, also chipped in a few words.

She pointed out how the fire disaster happened on the day of Lane's husband's funeral and confessed that it was burnt beyond repair. Then she said:

“Thankfully nobody was hurt but now Julie and her wonderful neighbours who have two young children have to re-build their entire lives.”

The money generated from the GoFundMe page will be put to good use, helping Lane get back on her feet even as she continues to mourn the demise of her husband.

Sometimes fate can seem cruel, and sometimes, it hurts so much that you think nothing else can hurt much worse.

Unfortunately, Lane had to endure those painful feelings twice in a row. But thanks to kind people and a supportive family, she has a chance to overcome it and grow stronger in the process.