Merle Knell loses everything after granny flat destroyed in Carrara house fire
A woman has lost almost everything after the granny flat she was renting was destroyed in a fierce Carrara house fire. HOW YOU CAN HELP >>>
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ONE of the people impacted by a fierce Carrara house fire has lost almost everything and wasn’t covered by insurance, her daughter says.
Merle Knell was renting out a granny flat underneath a two-storey house that was destroyed in a blaze in Carrara about 11am Thursday.
Daughter Jodie Van Elst has started an online fundraiser, saying her mum didn’t have contents insurance and was now looking for another granny flat to rent out amid a tough rental market.
“I just want to set her up in her own home as soon as possible to take a little bit of that hurt away,” Ms Van Elst told The Bulletin.
Merle first found out about the fire when she returned home after the blaze had already torn through.
“She was on the phone to my sister having a chinwag and then she could see the street was cordoned off,” Ms Van Elst said.
“You never think it would be your own home. It was very devastating for her.
“It’s still taking her a little bit to process. It’s just an utter shock.”
Merle’s landlord, who lived in the house upstairs, ran a Crazy Candles Workshop company from home.
Ms Van Elst said it was understood a gas bottle ignited, causing an explosion at the front of the house.
The landlord was the only person home at the time and suffered burns to his arms in the fire.
He was taken to Gold Coast University Hospital in a stable condition.
Most of Merle’s possessions were lost in the fire, including her late husband’s recliner chair.
But some items – including her marriage certificate – were able to be recovered, Ms Van Elst said.
She thanked the “amazing” response from firefighters at the scene who worked quickly to bring the blaze under control and prevent it from spreading to other homes.
Anyone who has a rental granny flat available in the south Gold Coast area, or wishes to donate to the cause, can contact Ms Van Elst via the fundraising campaign page.
Man burnt, home gutted in fierce Coast blaze – September 16
A TWO-STOREY house on the Gold Coast has been obliterated in a fierce fire, which has injured at least one man.
Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) had multiple firefighting crews at the scene on Garden Grove, near Nerang Broadbeach Rd, at Carrara about 11.10am.
The roof of the home has caved in and smoke has been pouring from its smouldering remains, while the blaze has also gutted a van parked at the residence
A second van from the Crazy Candles Workshops company is parked in the yard.
Photos and videos emerged showing the fire raging at the residence and plumes of dark smoke billowing from Carrara.
Earlier, a QFES spokeswoman said one crew was at the blaze and two crews were on the way after the “structure fire” was reported about 10.30am.
Queensland Ambulance paramedics, including critical care, were also called to the fire about 10.30am, a spokeswoman said.
Paramedics treated a man, who suffered burns to his arms in the fire.
He was taken to Gold Coast University Hospital in a stable condition.
Nerang Fire Station officer Karl Nihot said the fire had begun in the garage of the house while candles were being made.
He described the fire as being particularly fierce, having completely demolished the second level of the house.
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