Mum Sarah James describes fleeing Norlane house fire with two-year-old daughter

A GoFundMe page has been established to help a mother who had to flee her home with her two-year-old as it was engulfed in flames.

Sarah James and her two-year-old daughter Zayah escaped a Norlane house fire that destroyed their belongings. Picture: Supplied/Facebook

A mother has described the moment she woke up to flames at the end of her bed, before fire tore through her home.

Sarah James’ Norlane home was engulfed in flames on Wednesday afternoon, which destroyed all of her and daughter Zayah’s belongings.

The 29-year-old said she had put two-year-old Zayah down for a nap, and went for a nap herself.

“I think we were asleep for about an hour,” Ms James said.
“I don’t know what it was, but something made me open my eyes, and I saw my daughter at the end of my bed, and my doona had a flame.”

Sarah James said her two-year-old daughter Zayah had been burned on her cheek, but was doing okay in hospital. Picture: Supplied/Facebook

Ms James said she ran to the kitchen and grabbed a saucepan of water to put out the flame.

But after it sizzled, she said she ran to neighbours’ houses to grab a hose.

“By that time, we heard a massive bang, and the fire was out the windows, and there was no saving it from there,” she said.

Ms James said she and Zayah only escaped with the clothes on their backs, and thongs as Ms James’ only footwear.

She said she tried to run back into the house to get a few items, but the fire had advanced too far.

“Zayah wanted her teddy, and she just couldn’t stop crying,” she said.

“I tried to run back into the house, and I got halfway up the hallway but I couldn’t see anything, the smoke was too much.

“I’m just feeling for my daughter … she was pretty frightened.”

Zayah was hospitalised for burns on her cheek, but Ms James said she was doing well.

Close friend Aaron Betts posted in a community Facebook group, calling for donations of food vouchers, clothes, and toys, which received more than 80 comments in four hours.

Among the items lost were treasured photos of Ms James’ parents and younger brother, who died in a car accident a few years ago.

Mr Betts said for Ms James to deal with the loss of her home and belongings, so soon after the tragedy, was “unbearable”.

“She’s literally got nothing,” he said.

“A lot of people have written (to offer support).”

Ms James said she was overwhelmed by the outpouring of support from the community.

“Don’t realise until a situation like this happens and everyone getting together … the appreciation is just so much,” Ms James said.

“It’s been great, all the messages have been flooding in, just everyone hoping we’re okay and putting their hand up to help in any way.”

There has been a GoFundMe page established for Ms James and Zayah.

To donate, visit gofundme.com/f/fire-relief-all-gone.

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Originally published as Mum Sarah James describes fleeing Norlane house fire with two-year-old daughter