A Macleay Island couple is facing a miserable Christmas after fire razed their Glen Street property on Saturday morning.
Bill and Lynn Kirk's house went up in flames within a minutes, gas bottles exploded and the fire brigade arrived minutes later.
Firies were unable to save the house but no body was hurt.
Unfortunately they could not get their pet dog out or their pet birds.
Friend Lucy Celik said the family lost everything.
Mrs Kirk took to Facebook to thank the community for donating clothing and other items and to lament the loss of her pets.
She told of the sheer terror as pumps on the water tanks failed, hampering the couple's fire-fighting efforts.
"Thank you all so very much, your love and heartfelt sympathy has helped us so very much," she said.
"We will get through this but it'll take such a long time. I've lost everything including two of my best friends, Sunshine, my beloved companion and, of course, little Hercules who was my constant companion all of his short life.
"I miss them so very much and I have a hole in my heart at the moment.
"We are still trying to come to grips with what has happened and how bloody fast that fire took hold.
"We couldn't do a thing because the pump to the water tanks didn't work so we had no water. If the taps had worked we could have put it out before it took hold."
However, in the days before Christmas, community donations meant the Kirks were not without some seasonal cheer.
Their granddaughter Carley Jensen-Porcu, set up a St George Bank account the day after the fire.
Ms Jensen-Porcu travelled from her home in New South Wales to help the couple.
Donations for the family can also be made at The Blue Parrot Cafe on the island and a Facebook page has been set up to help the couple. It's called Macleay House Fire assistance.
Larger items such as furniture and beds can go to Island Living, a former hardware store on Macleay, until a container from Holly management arrives.
