Rosebud blaze started in boat before engulfing family home
A common household item is believed to be behind a blaze that has left a Mornington Peninsula family homeless.
South East
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A Mornington Peninsula family has lost everything after a fire ripped though their house.
Rosebud single dad Shaun Stanley said the January 19 blaze destroyed “every precious memory” he had collected of his three young children aged 2, 7 and 9.
“I’m sentimental. I kept everything; every drawing, hair from the first hair cut, baby teeth, all the little presents they have ever given me. It’s all gone, every memory is ash,” he said.
The fire is believed to have started when a disconnected battery in Mr Stanley’s boat exploded.
“I had two of those big lithium-ion batteries in the boat, not connected to anything, just stored under the seat,” he said.
“The fireys told me that seems to be what started the fire. They think one exploded and the other caught alight.”
The boat was stored under a pergola next to the Stanley’s house and the fire quickly spread.
The family was out at the time of the blaze and neighbours rang Mr Stanley to alert him to the disaster.
“I had the day off work so I could take the kids to Strike in Frankston. My neighbour rang and said the boat was gone and the fire was in the roof of the house,” Mr Stanley said.
‘What wasn’t burnt has been ruined by smoke and water.”
The family is currently staying in Frankston with a friend who has also organised an online fundraiser to help the Stanleys start over.
“I hate asking for help. I guess you could say I was a proud person who likes to do things for themselves,” Mr Stanley said.
“But this is beyond me. I don’t even know where to start.”
Mr Stanley, who is a builder, hoped to eventually rebuild the house.
“It will take a long time and we need somewhere to live until that happens,” he said.
“Rentals can be hard to find on the peninsula but we’d like to stay in Rosebud or close by.
“We only moved in to the house when it was finished about 18 months ago but were really working on building community connections.”
You can support the Stanleys here.
