Sue Robertson’s message after Ilbilbie home destroyed in fire

A Mackay region grandmother who lost everything when a fire razed her home and claimed the lives of two pets has been overwhelmed by support from her close-knit community.

An Ilbilbie home was gutted by flames on September 30.

A Mackay region grandmother is pushing a strong fire safety message after a ferocious blaze destroyed the family home and claimed the lives of two beloved pets.

Three teenagers, including her grandson, were lucky to escape the brick home moments before flames engulfed the property in Landels Rd, Ilbilbie, about 77km south of Mackay.

Now Sue Robertson wants others to know just how fast a fire could spread, as the community rallies behind the family who lost everything in minutes in the inferno.

A fire gutted the Landels Rd home in the morning on September 30.

The 63 year old said she believed a fault in the roof sparked the devastating blaze on September 30, which she said may be linked to a power outage from Koumala south to Ilbilbie.

Mrs Robertson had not been home at the time. She had snuck away to collect a present for her son, while her grandson and two friends watched the property.

“They woke up about 6am and there was no sign of smoke or anything, but the house was locked up, all the doors and windows were shut,” Mrs Robertson said.

“They went to go out of the house … as soon as the front door was open, the whole house went up.

“He still blames himself even though it wasn’t his fault.”

Ilbilbie grandmother Sue Robertson said the fire engulfed her brick home within minutes.

Mrs Robertson said her husband had left for work on September 29 in the afternoon and she had been due back early morning on September 30.

“The heat was that bad it melted things that were 10 foot from the house,” she said.

“I just still can’t get my head around how it can be so quick, with no indication, and then be completely gone.

“I think if I was there, I wouldn’t be here now because of how it started and where it started.”

Mrs Robertson said the house was built 18 years ago and had been filled with family mementos, including those of a son who had passed away.

“I also had the dog that my son had, and he died in the fire along with a little pup that I’d just got,” she said.

“The mother of one of the pups got hurt trying to get in to get her pup out. The pup had been on the veranda.”

The 63 year old said the heat was so intense it melted objects up to 10 feet from the property.

Mrs Robertson said the smoke detectors did not pick up the smoke at the start “because the fire was in the ceiling”.

“We had the detectors, but there was not smoke at the start … until he opened that front door and let the air in.”

Days later sifting through the gutted remains Mrs Robertson said she found her father’s bible which “wasn’t fully burnt”.

“The cover was singed and fell apart but it was still recognisable,” she said.

“To find that I think someone was looking after my grandson.”

Mrs Robertson praised the fire crews labelling their efforts as “magnificent” and said she has been overwhelmed by the support of her close-knit community, who have rallied behind the family offering food, shelter, clothing and more.

“People have got big hearts,” she said.

Mrs Robertson is pushing for people to be fire safe and have a prevention and exit plan after a blaze destroyed her home on September 30.

“I had people turning up with groceries that they spent money on that they didn’t need to.

“I more than appreciate it, I’ve got no words for it.

“You hear about people with house fire and you try and help but you don’t realise that little things mean more than you think.”

One friend has even started a GoFundMe page to help raise money for the family.

Mrs Robertson is urging others to listen and ensure there was a fire prevention and exit plan for every home.

“Remember it and practise it,” she said.

“Just look after each other because you don’t know what is going to happen around the corner.

“You think it’ll never happen to you but I’m just pleased that no one was hurt.”

To donate to the GoFundMe page visit here.

Originally published as Sue Robertson’s message after Ilbilbie home destroyed in fire