Caravan fire destroys couple’s ‘dream trip’ just four days after leaving home

This couple were only four days into a ‘dream trip’ around Australia when a mysterious fire destroyed their caravan with all of their belongings inside.

An Adelaide couple have lost everything after a devastating fire tore through their caravan as they set off on a six-month lap of Australia.

Isabelle Scherrer and her partner Dave were just four days into their caravanning holiday when disaster struck on the Eyre Peninsula.

“While reversing the van I got out to help direct and suddenly noticed smoke and heard the fire alarm go off,” Ms Scherrer said.

The 28-year-old, who works as a content creator, said she saw thick smoke coming out of a vent above the caravan front door, and quickly unhooked their car and evacuated their three dogs Lucy, Buddy and Axel as Dave tried to fight the fire.

Isabelle Scherrer and partner Dave lost everything after their caravan burnt down just days into their 'dream trip'. Picture: GoFundMe

“We managed to remove the gas bottles before calling triple-0, but all we could do was watch as everything we owned burned to the ground.”

“The dogs were really scared.”

“It was pretty hard to watch, they were shaking heaps.”

Isabelle Scherrer and her partner lost everything after their caravan burst into flames on the Eyre Peninsula. Picture: Supplied.

Ms Scherrer and her partner had packed up their West Beach home, and had most of their belongings stored in the caravan, including clothes, jewellery, electronics, passports, an inflatable boat and motor, and many sentimental items.

Ms Scherrer said while they lost more than $25,000 worth of belongings, their insurance company would only cover contents to $1000.

All they were able to recover from the charred remains was a burnt passport fragment and Valentine’s Day photo album.

“This trip was meant to be a fresh start for us,” Ms Scherrer said.

The couple have started a GoFundMe to raise funds to replace some of what they lost in the fire.

Originally published as Caravan fire destroys couple’s ‘dream trip’ just four days after leaving home