Jimboomba Times

HOME

ARCHIVED NEWS

<< GO BACK

Family loses all in fire

12 January 2010

By Lesley Hunter-Nolan
journo3@jimboombatimes.com.au

A NORTH Maclean family of six has been left with nothing after fire destroyed their home in the early hours of Monday morning.

The Swift family were fast asleep when a motorist passing their home on Wearing Road about 4.30am noticed the flames and raised the alarm by driving in and sounding his horn.

John Swift said he, his wife Angela, his three children Rebecca, Joshua and Chris and his son’s fiance, Jessica Schaefer, owed their lives to the passer-by.

“It is a miracle that he spotted the flames and managed to wake us because the whole place was up in flames within minutes of us waking,” he said.

The fire is believed to have been caused by the barbecue the family used for dinner on Sunday night.

“The firefighters think the hot pad in the tray burnt and set a box sitting beside it alight which spread to the curtains and then the whole house,” Mr Swift said.

“I woke at the sound of the horn and within three minutes the whole house was covered in smoke. You don’t think, you just get out and make sure everyone is okay.

“Then we called the emergency services and the fire trucks arrived by 5.15am, but the whole house was gone by then. The main thing is that everyone is okay so we will just have to start again.”

John’s Daughter Rebecca,19, was sleeping in the room furthest from the fire and managed to save some clothes but the others were not so lucky.

“I just grabbed what I could, I was so shocked I just couldn’t think,” she said.
Once everyone was accounted for, the Swift’s attention turned to their animals. They own two horses, two calves, two cats, and three dogs, and all escaped unscathed. Unfortunately, they lost some baby chicks who were being kept in the hallway.

It took three fire trucks and one water tanker three hours to bring the blaze under control.

The Swifts moved into the rented property three months ago and are devastated to have lost their ideal home.

“It took us six months to find a home that suited us and it was perfect,” Rebecca said.

“We had it all set up with stables for the horses and an exercise area but now it’s all gone.”

Mr Swift said he was not sure if their contents insurance was valid after they moved house.

“I just don’t know if we have it, I don’t think so,” he said.

For now, the family will stay with family and friends but their future remains uncertain.

They are interested to hear if anyone has a suitable property for lease in the vicinity and can be contacted at a relative’s house on 3800 3907.