Shai Walton and family lose everything in Park Ridge, Logan house fire

A distraught mother has shared her terror as she rushed two young children to safety before trying to smother a blaze which ultimately engulfed her home and killed their pet cat.

Shai Walton's children – Jayden, Cody, Leo and London. Picture – contributed.

A Logan community sourcing everything they can for a young family who lost all their possessions in a devastating house fire.

Donations from furniture to children’s clothes have been gathered for the family of six after the blaze, believed to have been caused by a battery charge under the parent’s mattress, engulfed the home at Park Ridge on Wednesday.

The fire broke out at a residence in Lani St just before 1.30pm, with fire crews arriving to find the home well alight.

Shai Walton, 26, a mother of four, was home when the fire broke out.

A battery charger under the parent’s mattress is believed to have caused the fire that gutted a house at Park Ridge on Wednesday. Picture – contributed.

“I think about 20 minutes before the fire started I’d put a battery on charge in the bedroom,” she said.

“I was in the garage playing music and didn’t hear anything until my 8-year-old niece ran in and told me the smoke alarm was going off.

“I got her and my other niece (5) who were home outside and to safety then I tried to put the fire out with a towel … but it just got bigger.”

As the flames grew and the smoke spread Ms Walton said she ran to the kitchen and grabbed some water.

Shai Walton's children – Jayden, Cody, Leo and London. Picture: Contributed

But by the time she had water, the entire bedroom was engulfed by flames and she couldn’t breathe through the smoke which filled the home.

“I called triple-0 and got outside to safety,” Ms Walton said.

“The entire house was alight by the time the fireys go there.

“I remember I was hysterical … screaming and crying. It was honestly terrifying.”

Since Wednesday, the family has found a new rental.

But after losing everything to the fire they have had to start from scratch with four very young children.

The fire broke out at a residence in Lani St, Park Ridge, just before 1.30pm, Wednesday, with fire crews arriving to find the home well alight. Picture: Contributed

Nearby resident Susan Mountain said the fire was horrific.

“We watched in horror as the house burnt. I just live a few houses away. The family are renters and have to start again. They are obviously devastated,” she said.

“We as a community need to work together and support this young family. My family are now known to them and we will do all we can to help and support the family.”

Ms Walton said her, the four children, and the children’s father Andrew Sievrts, 31, who works as a landscaper, have felt incredibly supported by the Logan community.

A young family has lost everything in a devastating house fire at Logan this wee. Picture – contributed.

“Our cat Cleo died in the fire which the kids are really upset about … but I did tell the two youngest that she ran away because I thought that would be easier for them to handle,” she said.

“We’re all still in a bit of shock … I feel pretty numb at the moment. It doesn’t feel real and I just can’t believe this happened.

“Thankfully people have been donating lots of furniture, kids clothing, toys and food vouchers. We’re so thankful and it will be a really big help.

“I’m just so incredibly grateful all of the children are safe … I couldn’t live with myself if something had happened to them.”

A GoFundMe page has also been started to help the family.

QFES is still investigating the cause of the fire.