South Burnett dad sprints into burning house to save son’s ashes before watching everything go up in smoke

A South Burnett family are mourning the loss of their historical family home, which burned down with their pets, belongings, and mementos of their lost son inside.

A South Burnett dad risked his life to save his beloved son’s ashes after his family home at Chelmsford, near Kingaroy, was engulfed by flames and tragically burned to the ground.

Robert Christensen was working in a shed next door on Tuesday afternoon when his brother noticed smoke coming from the family home.

“My brother said, ‘what’s going on over there?’, so I looked out and thought my wife was just doing a bit of rubbish,” Mr Christensen said.

When he discovered his wife Lutece was in town, Mr Christensen wasted no time racing to the more than 100-year-old property where he spotted flames coming from the back of the house.

Aftermath of a house fire that destroyed a historic home at Chelmsford, north of Kingaroy, on September 7, 2021. Picture: Holly Cormack

The fire brigade was called to the Weirs road address before the brave dad sprinted into the burning house with one thing on his mind – saving the ashes of his 12-year-old son, Tyson, who tragically passed away two years ago.

“I couldn‘t see where I was going. I just went in there and there was just black smoke everywhere, but I knew the house and knew where I was going,” he said.

“I couldn‘t see the flames, I could just feel the heat.”

Fortunately Mrs Christensen and their six children were not home at the time, however the whereabouts of their new puppy and cat are currently unknown.

While thankful he was able to save his most treasured possession, the doting dad is now coming to terms with the extent to what his family has lost.

“We actually had a big chest in the house with a heap of our son’s stuff in it. Just little mementos of him,” he said.

“There’s hair in there from his first haircut, and some of his clothes and toys. It’s all gone, so (Lutece) is distraught over that.

“And there's a lot of photos in there that we haven’t got copies of, especially all him, but also of the rest of the family. Little things like that you just can’t get back.”

Aftermath of a house fire that destroyed a historic home at Chelmsford, north of Kingaroy, on September 7, 2021. Picture: Holly Cormack

Mr Christensen had only recently decked out the kitchen with a brand new $4000 stove, dishwasher and fridge for his wife’s birthday.

The family will be staying with Mr Christensen’s parents until they figure out their next move.

Wondai Fire Station Captain Cookie Jeffrey said crews were called to the fire, which was already well involved just before 3pm.

Captain Jeffrey said the property’s location meant water wasn’t easy to access, with the rural units having the rely water.

Police are currently investigating the cause of the fire.