Darwin River rallies around Les Ferguson after fire destroys home

Darwin River man Les Ferguson was ‘lucky’ to stay unscathed after the fire that destroyed his home. Read how the community rallied around him after his devastating loss.

A tangled mess of blackened steel is all that remains of Les Ferguson’s Darwin River home.

The Darwin River community is rallying around fire victims following Tuesday’s suspicious fire which destroyed the home of resident Les Ferguson and affected other properties.

Mr Ferguson said the support he received in the wake of the devastating loss was “unbelievable”.

“People I didn’t even know have been offering to help,” he said.

“One fella rang me up this morning and said ‘You don’t know me from a bar of soap but I’ve got a donga here if you want to use it’.

“Another bloke turned up with a caravan because I just slept in the back of the ute last night.”

Darwin River supermarket general manager, Tamra Forward, said she was confident the community would bounce back.

“We’re rallying around a lot of our locals that did get their blocks burnt and obviously Les Ferguson,” Ms Forward said.

Darwin River supermarket general manager Tamra Forward said the community was ‘rallying around a lot of our locals’. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

“There was a bit of sombre mood yesterday but we need to move on, we’re here to support anybody that needs help.”

Ms Forward said the community spirit was evident in the response from locals during the fire.

“Some businesses brought in water tanks on the back of utes to help with extinguishing the fire,” she said.

“(My family) assisted with water from our property dam.”

Local resident Rebecca Sheppard said the community’s response to the terrifying blaze and its aftermath had been “awesome”.

“Everyone bands together here and we’re all family,” she said.

“Last night we had a coupons night (at the Darwin River Tavern) and we rallied together so that any winnings were going to Les.”

Ms Sheppard said the response from emergency services was deeply appreciated.

Rebecca Sheppard said ‘everyone bands together’ when a community member is in need. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

“They did what they had to, needed to, and could do,” she said.

“I wouldn’t want to have been in their shoes the way the wind was going that day.”

Despite the devastation of the fire, Mr Ferguson said Darwin River was “still home”.

“(The) plan is to get a roof over my head,” he said.

“My word, I’m not going anywhere.”