‘Overwhelmed with support’: Mum of two speaks after Boambee, Coffs Harbour house fire

The community is rallying behind a Coffs Harbour mum and her two children after a ferocious blaze ripped through their home, leaving them with “nothing but the clothes on their backs”.

What remains of the Linden Ave, Boambee property after the house fire on September 22, 2024.

A Coffs Harbour family have been “left with nothing but the clothes on their backs” after a ferocious fire tore through their home.

Charcoal and ashes are all that remain of the house of Boambee mum Jelena Layton and her two young children aged 3 and 4 years old.

On Monday, September 22 at about midday, a blaze destroyed the single level, brick and tile Linden Ave home at Boambee, just south of Coffs Harbour.

Charred remnants of the former home of Jelena Layton Sailor in Boambee.

Fire and Rescue NSW stated no one was injured in the fire. A family cat was rescued from the inferno.

A FRNSW spokesman said multiple units attended and extinguished the fire after two hours.

The blackened structure was then deemed “uninhabitable”.

The young family’s crippling loss has been made more difficult with Ms Layton’s youngest child, who is in a full pelvic cast for the next few months while recovering from hip dysplasia.

“Both her legs are in the cast, which means she’s not able to move or do anything by herself,” Ms Layton told News Local.

Her daughter’s treatment also requires travel to and from Newcastle every two weeks for check- ups.

Jelena Layton (right) with friend Ruby Munro who has appealed to the community for help through GoFundMe. Picture: GoFundMe.

Ms Layton said along with her kids, she had been placed in emergency accommodation while the family cat remains at the vet for smoke inhalation treatment.

Ms Layton’s friend Ruby Munro has put a call out for support, including clothing size 4-6 and women’s clothing top size 26 and bottoms 20, via a GoFundMe fundraiser. 

“The response has been overwhelming,” Ms Layton said.

“We’ve had clothes donated and even furniture lined up for when we get into a home again which is amazing”.

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