Seaford family overwhelmed with kindness after house fire
They lost everything except some clothes and a beloved turtle but the community is helping this family get back on their feet.
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A family of seven facing the agonising prospect of rebuilding their lives after a devastating fire has been heartened by the kindness of community and strangers.
Brayden Semmens, 24, and Rachel Lowe, 36, were set to mark the start of living together under the one roof in Seaford when a fire broke out, destroying almost everything they own.
The family of seven, including kids Kaleb, 10, Archie, 8, Malakai, 3, Riley 1, and four-month-old Bowie, had most of what they owned stored in the garage.
“There is very little left,” Mr Semmens said.
“We’re trying our best to save our clothes at the moment.”
Amid the many offers to help is one from a property manager offering to help the young family into a fully furnished Seaford Rise home.
Three days before the fire, Ms Lowe had moved everything she owned to the Seaford Rise home for what was meant to be the start of the couple living together under one roof.
The van borrowed from a mate was destroyed, along with another car, pushing the known damage bill above $20,000.
Mr Semmens said that figure didn’t take into account the destroyed possessions such as all furniture, televisions and general household items.
“I lived at the house with my father prior, and he had moved out so Rachel and the kids could move in,” he said.
“Everything got piled up in the garage.”
He said the cause of the fire had not been determined, with “too many possible causes” in the garage such as petrol, LPG tanks and lithium battery chargers.
The family’s three cats died in the fire but Michelangelo the turtle – named for the Ninja
Turtle which Kaleb is “obsessed with” – survived.
“At the moment we’ve got the kids in different households,” Mr Semmens said.
“Some of the kids’ toys were OK but all of it is smoke damaged.
“The Nintendo Switch and PlayStation were water damaged but we hope we can dry them out.
“They’re very grounding for the boys, so we’re really hoping we can recover those.”
Amid the despair, Mr Semmens said he was overwhelmed by the kindness of people offering to help.
Property manager Naomi Will has reached out to the family with a Seaford Rise listing for a fully furnished house, with an offer to help fast-track the application if it helps.
MarinePlus in Lonsdale has taken over care for Mikey, the eight-year-old turtle.
“Somehow miraculously he didn’t cook in the fire; the fish tank didn’t even break,” he said.
An online fundraiser started by the Meadows Hotel where Mr Semmens works has raised more than $6600 in two days.
A donation point was also set up at the hotel and the Christies Beach Football Club – which is also holding a raffle fundraiser for the family.
“I want to send a massive thank you to the community,” he said.
“It’s so overwhelming and we’re doing our best to get back to everyone and thank everyone.
“We’ve had so many offerings we’re struggling to keep up with it.
“It’s full on, but it’s a good overwhelming.”
Support the fundraiser here.
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