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Danielle Searle hugs her daughter Sandy, 2, and son Ashton, 9, at the charred remains of their cottage in Big Omaha.
Danielle Searle is lucky to be alive following a house fire that completely destroyed her Big Omaha home this month.
Danielle returned home at 4pm with her son Ashton, 9, and daughter Sandy, 2. She cleaned out the spent fire ashes from the previous night’s fire, and put them in a bucket outside in the carport. It wasn’t until 2am the following morning that she woke to an inferno.
“I was lying in bed and I woke up to a rumbling sound,” Danielle says. “It sounded like someone was throwing wood at the side of the house and there was a blazing light at the kitchen door. I opened the door and there were flames everywhere. I ran back, grabbed the kids and got out.”
Fire fighters believe that winds fanned and spread the ashes re-igniting them and setting the carport ablaze.
Phillip Cooper, Danielle’s former partner and Sandy’s father has been a volunteer fire fighter at Snells Beach for nine years. He wasn’t involved in the call out but knows first hand how close it was to a tragedy.
“I’ve seen fires exactly like this where people don’t get out alive. This was scary as hell,” Phillip said.
Danielle says that she always put the ashes outside in a bucket and would like others to be aware of the dangers. She is currently staying with her parents, but the terrifying experience has taken its toll.
“There are nights now when I dream the house is on fire and I wake up and smell smoke,” Danielle says.
She has lost everything in the fire – even her car. However, she has been overwhelmed by the support of the local community.
“Clothes, toys, furniture, linen – everything has been donated to us. I would like to send a heart felt thank you to everyone.”
Danielle says losing momentos she had saved from her children’s birth was the greatest loss, but she is very grateful that the family escaped unhurt.
“Someone was looking after us that night. I woke up and we all got out. I never get cellphone reception here, but I did that night. I was able to call the fire service and my Mum.”
A Facebook page called ‘Get Danielle back on her feet’ has been set up for those wanting to help the family.
