Friends of a Kangaroo Flat family saved from a house fire by a smoke detector have launched an online fundraising appeal.

Scott and Karli Coulson from Newcastle, New South Wales, have used GoFundMe to help their mates Paul Mulder, Rhiannon Engi, and their two children Alyssa and Jackson recover from the blaze that gutted their Longmore Street home early on Tuesday morning.

“People haven’t hesitated, they have just given what they can,” Mr Coulson said. 

The appeal has been live for about a day and has almost reached its $2000 fundraising goal. 

“A lot of the time it is awkward in tragedy for some people to offer help and its difficult for the people who require the assistance to accept help, so this is quite a simple and direct way to help those in need,” Mr Coulson said.

He has been friends with Mr Mulder for more than 30 years. 

“We grew up together, we played football together, and we’ve just kept in touch over the years,” Mr Coulson said.

“He’s been through a fair bit in his life – this is just, I guess, another thing that has happened but he has always bounced back and kept a positive attitude.

“Anytime anyone else is down, he has always been the first person to get in there and help in whatever way he can… anything I can do for him from where I am, I’ll definitely do. 

He said the young family had received support from emergency services, their insurance company, family, friends and well-wishers. 

“People have offered some clothes for the kids and whatever help they can,” Mr Coulson said. 

“Paul is a pretty proud sort of bloke but he is extremely grateful for all the help he has had.”

He said the family lost “a lot” in the fire, which destroyed the lounge and kitchen areas of the house and extensively damaged the rest of the dwelling. 

The children, aged 6 and 2, are missing their favourite toys.

“Paul just wants to get them back to some sort of normality and routine,” Mr Coulson said. 

He said people wishing to donate could visit the GoFundMe page.