Accidental fire destroys family home in South West WA

A family in Western Australia's South West narrowly escaped a devastating house fire that destroyed their home and all their possessions. Lisa Fawcett was asleep in her Boyup Brook home on Sunday morning when the blaze ignited, which she believes was caused by a heater placed too close to a couch.

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I had everything I needed, and now I have nothing. It's hard to comprehend.

Fawcett was woken by thick, black smoke filling her son's room. She recounted the terrifying moments as flames spread and glass exploded, forcing her to flee immediately. Her son had to escape through a window. Emergency services arrived at the scene shortly after the fire began.

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All I could see was red flames. By the time I was able to walk across the lounge room, the whole ceiling was just this really thick, choking black smoke.

"I had everything I needed, and now I have nothing," Fawcett said, struggling to comprehend the loss. The fire consumed the entire home, leaving nothing but debris. Fawcett highlighted the irreplaceable loss of sentimental items, including photos and jewelry belonging to her late partner, as well as decades of collected antiques.

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That's when I knew I didn't have time to grab anything, I just had to get out.

Despite the immense material and sentimental loss, Fawcett expressed relief that her family escaped without serious injury, suffering mainly from smoke inhalation. Neighbors assisted by disconnecting gas bottles and moving her car during the incident. The community has rallied around Fawcett, offering temporary accommodation and support as she begins to process the aftermath of the fire.

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It was just so quick. It was like three or four minutes to get to the reality of what was actually happening.