Bruce house fire: single mum, young siblings home destroyed in massive blaze

A Mid-North Coast single mum and her children are grieving the loss of their family home following a massive fire, but community support is helping them look to the future.

Photos of the Moto home after it was destroyed by fire.

A single mother and her two children were left homeless with nothing but the clothes on their back after their family home was destroyed by fire.

Kim Bruce was in her bedroom when one of her kids first noticed the porch bordering the rural home was alight last Friday.

Photos of the Moto home after it was destroyed by fire.

Photos of the Moto home after it was destroyed by fire.

“They had to run out of the house, didn’t even have shoes on their feet, nothing,” eldest daughter Lillian Bruce said.

“We’re so thankful for the help of the firefighters, but it was an all-timber house so the whole thing just went up in flames.”

Just one week on from the ordeal, over $10,000 has been raised through a Go Fund Me campaign and countless items donated to help the Bruces get back on their feet.

The family home, before the fire, viewed from the backyard pool.

The family having fun on the water, just outside the home.

There’s still a long way to go, but the outpour of generosity has helped Lillian’s mum and siblings – 18-year-old Holly, who is bravely sitting the HSC at the moment, and 15-year-old Gabriel – feel more optimistic about the future.

Lillian only moved out of the rural home in Moto (near Coopernook) earlier this year, so she was safe in Taree when the fire began around 9.30am on Friday, October 7.

Photos of the Moto home after it was destroyed by fire.

“My family were all inside – my brother was playing the PlayStation, my sister was on her phone, and Mum was in her room, when Holly heard something,” Lillian recounted.

“My sister looked out towards the back deck and the whole thing was on fire.

Breakfast on the porch.

Lillian said the ordeal was very upsetting for her mum, but support from loved ones and generous locals has helped.

The split decision was made to quickly dash back inside for Kim’s phone, allowing the family to call triple-0.

“The firetrucks arrived in seven minutes and, by the time I left work and travelled there, the whole place was like a massive bonfire,” Lillian said.

“My family was literally just standing there barefoot.

Photos of the Moto home after it was destroyed by fire.

“They had time to move the cars and grab the cat, the dogs followed too, but Mum lost all of her fish and birds.”

Kim purchased the property back in 2013, putting a home there and moving the family in around 2017.

The overwhelming loss has left the single mum quite upset, but she’s been propped up by visits from family and friends.

“She’s doing much better, and we’re trying to look towards the future now,” Lillian said.

Photos of the Moto home after it was destroyed by fire.

“Some family has visited from Sydney and they’ve even made comments, saying if this happened in the city, you would never see a community response like this.

“They just couldn’t believe it.

“It’s been really nice to see everyone come together.”

The family lived in the Moto home for about five years before it was destroyed by fire.

15-year-old Gabriel.

For now, the Bruces are staying at in the home attached to Living Hope Baptist Church, which was generously given up by the local pastor.

“He just shifted all of his stuff out and let my family move in, so they had a roof over their head by Sunday,” Lillian said.

“And they’re allowed to stay there as long as they need, so we were really lucky to have those connections help us out.”

With stable accommodation now secured, the Bruces are working their way through the grieving process.

Kim's new bedroom, thanks to donations.

Their temporary home is starting to take shape, thanks to local support.

“I actually work at Ray White and, through that, we knew someone who was selling a house and they wanted to get rid of their furniture,” Lillian explained.

“It was these beautiful antique items, which is so my mum’s style because that’s how she’d decked out the house before.”

Kim’s bedroom is looking a lot like home now, with a brand new bed and mattress, sheets, quilts and covers, pillows, beautiful lamps, and some floral paintings.

But the generosity hasn’t stopped there, with local businesses digging deep to help out.

“A friend from work has been going around town, visiting businesses and sharing our story, which has led to me taking bags of donations back to the family,” Lillian said.

“Stash House have given us school bags, pencil cases and clothes for my brother; Salon A gave my mum and sister some gift packs; Saltwater Wine also donated a lot of school supplies; the owners at Bohemian Cafe also gave some free meals, on top of the bedroom furniture they donated – and so many others, we’re just so grateful to everyone.”

Lillian said the family are all sticking together during this vulnerable time.

The fundraiser, which initially aimed to collect $10,000, has already surpassed its goal.

The money raised will help the Bruces replace lost items, including all of the clothes, furniture, appliances, linen and other items that were burnt.

A home rebuild could also come later down the track.

Show your support by donating here.

Firefighters are still investigating the cause of the blaze.