A MOTHER and seven children have lost almost everything after a fire destroyed their home in Wellington Point.
To add to Alex Turner’s trauma, looters have rifled through the remains of the house, stealing smoke-damaged property and leaving clothes strewn outside.
Ms Turner has three children, including a teenager with special needs, and cares for four others.
No one was home when the fire broke out about 9.30pm last week Monday, but a neighbour who discovered the fire smashed a window to get into the house and check whether anyone was inside.
Ms Turner, the children and a friend had walked to a house they were due to move into within a few days.
“I got a call from my neighbour saying the house was on fire,” said Ms Turner.
“We were walking back and I just collapsed on the ground.”
Friends took them to a nearby house while firefighters quickly brought the blaze under control.
“I think I was screaming and crying. I don’t really remember,” she said.
“The ambo was telling me to calm down. I just wanted to hold the kids because that calms me down.”
Returning to the house the day after the fire, she saw people walking down the road carrying her things.
“It was very traumatic,” she said.
Unable to access any emergency accommodation, Ms Turner and the children are sleeping on thin air mattresses in their new house.
Ms Turner has not been able to get money out of her bank account as her wallet and identity documents were destroyed by the fire.
One charity gave her $20 in store cards when she explained her situation.
“They said I will be getting lots of help from other places,” she said.
She is overwhelmed by help that has come from Capalaba MP Don Brown who bought her groceries and set up a GoFundMe fundraising page.
“He doesn’t know us. He is just a neighbour at the new house and they came to introduce themselves,” Ms Turner said.
In addition to needing to replace basic furniture and appliances, Ms Turner’s eldest daughter Taleighla requires about $20,000 worth of specialist equipment including orthopedic shoes, a pram, commode, hoist, epilepsy mat and electric bed.
The 15-year-old suffers from the rare Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome and a number of other conditions.
She was given a life expectancy of 15 years when she was diagnosed at 13 months.
The only item that was insured was Ms Turner’s car.
Fire investigators believe the fire was caused by an electrical fault.
They removed cables from a modem, which have been sent to be assessed.
