FIRST REPORTS: House at Ascot engulfed by flames
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
THE Trenfield family, whose rented Ascot home was gutted in a fire on Sunday, say they are blown away by the community's help.
Trish Trenfield said the community's assistance had been "phenomenal - absolutely mind-blowing".
"I knew there would be response but I didn't realise how big it would be," she said.
She said people had donated all kinds of goods - including clothes, furniture and even toothbrushes.
"It seems so long ago since Sunday," Mrs Trenfield said.
"My head hasn't stopped spinning."
The family of seven's house caught on fire about 10.45am, destroying the inside of most of the house.
The Trenfield family consists of father Jason, mother Trish and children Jakk, 17, Jesse 12, Jaylen, 9, - who has a disability - Kalee, 4 and Taya, 3.
The Red Cross has arranged for the family to live in an apartment until they are able to find another rental property.
Mrs Trenfield recalled the moment she realised the house was on fire.
She said that Jaylen was in a room at the front of the house while the remaining family members were out the back.
Mr and Mrs Trenfield heard the smoke alarm go off and rushed to the front end of the house, to find one of the rooms was fully alight.
They got the children outside and called the CFA.
"I started hyperventilating," Mrs Trenfield said.
"I thought we were going to lose everything we owned."
The fire didn't burn the kitchen so the family's fridge and a few other possessions were saved, although their all of their clothes and bedroom items were destroyed.
Thankfully, the family's two pet dogs and pet lizards also survived the blaze.
Mrs Trenfield said she was thankful no-one was injured in the incident and her family would "battle on".
"I'm just trying to make sure the kids are alright," she said.
The Country Fire Authority said on Sunday they believed the fire was started by an electric heater, but the Trenfields said the cause was still being investigated.