Sawley family of Mount Gambier launch GoFundMe after rental home and possessions destroyed by fire

A Mount Gambier family of six has been forced to “start from scratch” after their home was extensively damaged in a fire.

A GoFundMe has been set up to help a Mount Gambier family of six whose home and belongings were destroyed in a house fire on Thursday.

Jacob Sawley, 19, from Mount Gambier, set up the GoFundMe a few hours after his family’s home, a rental property on Altinio Drive, went up in flames, causing extensive damage to the house and destroying majority of the family’s belongings.

Jacob was the only resident at home when a fire broke out in one of the house’s bedrooms just before 9am on Thursday. He escaped the building unharmed and emergency services were called to the scene at 8.54am.

Three MFS crews and three CFS crews responded to the call, with 22 firefighters managing to extinguish the blaze in approximately 30 minutes.

A GoFundMe has been set up to help a Mount Gambier family after their home and belongings were extensively damaged in a fire on Thursday. Picture: GoFundMe

Fire investigators attended the scene and determined the fire likely started due to an electrical fault from a power board used in a bedroom.

The fire caused an estimated $600,000 damage.

Following the fire, Jacob set up a GoFundMe to help him and his family get back on their feet, sharing that they have a caravan to stay in for the time being but would greatly appreciate any monetary help that could assist the family in getting some furniture and bedding together for a future rental.

“Hi my name is Jacob and our family home just burnt down,” the introduction to the GoFundMe reads.

“I am looking for a bit of funding to help me and my family get back on our feet, we have a caravan that we can stay in for the time being.

“Any monetary help would be greatly appreciated, to be able to help my family get some furniture and bedding together for a rental. As unfortunate as it has been, we are hoping for a better future.

“My family consists of my mum, dad, myself and three younger brothers. It will be hard to start from scratch as we had no insurance on belongings.”

As of noon on Friday, the GoFundMe had received just shy of $4000.

Despite majority of the Mount Gambier community sharing support and condolences for the Sawleys on social media, several people have critiqued the family for not having insurance.

One user commented under a link to the GoFundMe: “Why even bother with the insurance if you can get a go fund me set up. Makes me wonder why I pay insurance.”

Other members of the community swiftly came to the family’s defence, reminding people to have compassion and to not say anything if “you don’t have anything nice to say”.

One commenter told the critics “you do realise you don’t have to contribute to the GoFundMe if you don’t want to, don’t you?”

“This isn’t costing you anything, so why bother commenting?”

Anyone who wishes to support the Sawley family can donate by visiting the GoFundMe here.