Samantha Wiltshire and Maki reunited with the firefighters who saved their home

A MOTHER and her young daughter have been reunited with the hero firefighters who saved their Ascot Vale dream home after it went up in flames.

Samantha Wiltshire with her daughter Maki, 6, and firefighters (L-R) Keiran Magahy, Morgan White, Sandro Pozzebon, Brad Thompson, Peter Ferrie. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

A MOTHER and her young daughter have been reunited with the hero firefighters who saved their dream home after placing an ad in the paper thanking them for their efforts.

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MFB crews from Footscray and Ascot Vale stations met with Samantha Wiltshire and six-year-old Maki on Sunday for the first time since their house went up in flames two months ago.

Maki with Leading Fire Fighter Keiran Magahy. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

Firefighters worked tirelessly for five hours to contain the blaze — caused by a discarded cigarette — which damaged three rooms of their recently renovated house on August 10.

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Ms Wiltshire said they had only been living in the old Victorian Ascot Vale home for a few weeks when she got a call saying it had caught fire.

“I thought I’d lost everything but they worked so quickly to keep my house standing,” she said.

“How can I possibly thank someone who risked their life to save my most valued physical possessions?

“I placed the ad because I wanted to reach these people who’d come from everywhere and make them feel good about what they do.”

“Meeting the firefighters has turned an event that was traumatic and upsetting into something very special.”

Crews welcomed the mother-daughter duo over the emergency speaker system before treating them to a unique view of the city skyline up on a ladder platform truck.

Samantha and Maki at the top of the ladder platform. Picture Yuri Kouzmin

Ascot Vale station officer Peter Ferrie said after 30 years as a firefighter he still appreciated receiving feedback.

“We often meet people on the worst day of their life and most firefighters have a lot of compassion for the people involved,” he said.

“We're mindful that it’s a confronting thing to almost lose your home, but it is good to get some positive reinforcement.”

While Ms Wiltshire and Maki are disappointed they won’t be spending Christmas in their new home, they look forward to moving back next year once repairs are complete.

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