Kimberley Place, Gymea Bay: Fire damaged home, roof collapsed
Firefighters arrived to the Kimberley Place house to find it fully alight with seven crews working to extinguish the blaze. A heartbroken daughter reflects on lost memories in the home her father built.
St George Shire Standard
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A Gymea Bay house has been damaged in a fire devastating the owner’s daughter who grew up in the family home.
Firefighters were called to the Kimberley Place house, on the corner Bunarba Road, shortly before 1.30pm on Monday.
Crews arrived to find the house engulfed by flames, with the fire causing the roof to partially collapse.
The blaze was extinguished about 2.45pm with part of the front rooms of the two-storey house gutted and blackened from smoke.
Michelle Down said her father was thankfully not at home during the fire and she arrived while firefighters and police were on scene.
She was asked to go to the home after her brother had been informed via a friend who saw the house fire reported on social media.
Ms Down , who lives in Sutherland, said her father had built the house 50 years ago and she had fond memories of growing up in the home.
“I remember having lots of house parties,” he said. “Dad built the house and he was one of the first in the street and always lived there.”
Ms Down said her father’s health had deteriorated in recent years but she was glad the fire had not reached the downstairs area where his belongings were kept.
She said her sister’s and nephew’s rooms were damaged in the blaze.
Ms Down said a family cat was also tragically killed in the fire.
She said she would likely only bring her father back to the damaged home if he asked, believing it would be too upsetting for him.
There were seven crews on scene with firefighters still mopping up the debris while the cause of the blaze will be investigated.
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