Mathew Wenzel and Cath Shield lose everything in house fire

Two school teachers who lost everything in a house fire in Hervey Bay want the generosity shown to them by the community to be directed at those who are in need this Christmas.

Just days out from Christmas, Mathew Wenzel and Cath Shield have lost their home and belongings in a shocking house fire - but the two are asking the generous Hervey Bay community to direct their donations elsewhere.

The fire, which tore through their home on Saturday, left the couple being treated for smoke inhalation in hospital and destroyed their home, Christmas tree and the presents picked out for their children - each have two children from prior relationships.

But the Hervey Bay teachers aren’t letting the situation get them down, with Mr Wenzel saying their kids would still have a great, if unconventional, Christmas.

On Saturday night, seven fire crews worked for three hours to extinguish the fire that broke out on the second floor of the two-storey timber home on Hervey St in Hervey Bay on Saturday night, a Queensland Fire and Emergency spokeswoman said.

Fire crews arrived at 8.55pm to the house already well alight.

Large amounts of smoke billowed from the fire and it moved from the second floor to the first floor, they said.

Neighbours were forced to evacuate.

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Two people were taken to hospital for smoke inhalation after a fire tragically burned through a house on Hervey St, Hervey Bay. Saturday, December 16, 20203

A house has been left structurally damaged after a blaze started on the second floor and moved to the first. The photo posted on social media has prompted an outpouring of generous Christmas offerings to the victims.

Mr Wenzel said he had been downstairs when Ms Shield came down and asked him to grab the fire extinguisher.

He did, but it wasn’t able to extinguish the flames that had broken out near their Christmas tree.

The two were forced to flee, with the house filling with smoke and flames spreading rapidly.

“It just blew me away,” Mr Wenzel said of how fast the fire spread.

“It was just so intense.”

Cath Shield and Mathew Wenzel outside their gutted home in Scarness.

He said so far fire investigators had not been able to draw any conclusions about what started the fire and the home was structurally unsound, which had hindered the investigation.

Mr Wenzel said the loss their home was still sinking in for both of them.

Since the fire the couple, both school teachers, have been kept busy trying to replace items and clothing they have lost.

Their home was fully insured and while they have been offered plenty of donations and they are grateful for the generosity shown to them, Mr Wenzel urged people to make donations to people who were less fortunate at Christmas.

While it was a “pretty major hiccup”, they could see the light at the end of the tunnel, Mr Wenzel said.