Noah & Khloe Curnow hailed as heroes after rescuing grandparents from Swan Hill house fire

A Swan Hill mum has praised her young children’s quick thinking after they rescued their grandparents from a fire that destroyed their family home, leaving them with only the clothes on their backs.

The Woorinen South family home went up in flames and elderly grandparents Carmel and Ray were rescued by their hero grandkids. Pic: Supplied

A Swan Hill mother has hailed her young children as heroes for saving their grandparents from a house fire that destroyed the family’s home of 51 years.

Sheree Curnow described the loss of her Woorinen South family home as “heartbreaking” after a fire, sparked by a faulty freezer, reduced the property to ashes just after New Year’s Day.

The blaze erupted inside the house while grandparents Carmel and Ray Curnow were at home with the grandkids.

Youngest grandchild Khloe noticed smoke rising from the kitchen, quickly raising the alarm while eldest grandson Noah rushed to help his grandfather and the family evacuating just in time.

Neighbours and passers by helped the family escape the blaze. Picture: Supplied.

Neighbours and passers-by rushed to assist, with some calling emergency services while others helped guide the family to safety.

Ms Curnow was at work during the time of the incident and said she didn’t know whether her parents and two children were safe until she got to the scene.

“When I got the phone call to say that the house was on fire, I zoomed off real quick,” she said.

“I saw the smoke, and that broke me because I was like, yeah, now the house is gone.”

The next-door neighbours rescued Ellie, the family dog, pulling her to safety in their backyard.

The house all decked out for Christmas in the days prior to the fire. Picture: Supplied

This tragedy has come at a difficult time for the Curnow family, with Ray having had multiple heart attacks in the past year.

“I swear my dad has nine lives. Between June and December, we thought we’d lost him three times,” Ms Curnow said.

“If it wasn’t for Khloe being inside, we could have lost Dad.”

The family has been overwhelmed by the support of their community.

Friends Sue and Paul Buxton offered the use of their house, and others have rallied to donate furniture and essentials.

The Curnow family house was destroyed, along with 51 years worth of family history. Picture: Supplied

“The generosity has been amazing,” Ms Curnow said.

Ms Curnow’s parents Carmel and Ray are lifetime members of the Swan Hill Sonic Speedway, which has launched a GoFundMe campaign to support the family as they rebuild.

“All our photos, the kids’ iPads, Mum and Dad’s things — it’s all gone,” Ms Curnow said. “But the kids and my parents are safe, and that’s what matters.”