Parkerville bushfires WA: Devastated family ‘literally have nothing’ after ferocious bushfire ripped through their home just days before Christmas
The mother of a family that lost everything in a forest fire said she watched her family's home burn to the ground on TV at work.
Julie Moody, her husband Craig and their children were due to host Christmas this year, a plan that fell apart when their home in Parkerville, in Perth's east, was destroyed on Thursday.
A catastrophic bushfire in the area – among five emergency-level fires that threatened Western Australians on Wednesday and Thursday – has destroyed at least two homes.
As the fire swept through the suburb on Thursday, Ms Moody had checked her security cameras to see how her family's belongings were holding up.
She was shocked to see that the fire was already at their pool and getting closer to their three-story home.
A family lost their home in Parkerville (above) to the Perth Hills bushfires on Wednesday, just days before Christmas
Mum Julie Moody (above) said her husband just managed to rescue their family's dogs from the burning house after seeing the fire start on their CCTV footage
Mrs. Moody quickly called her husband from work and told him the house was in danger.
“I called my husband and told him to run home, but he managed to get through the roadblocks to get the dogs out,” Mrs. Moody said. The West on Friday.
'He had to go through the barriers and the neighbours' property because no one would let him in, but if he didn't the dogs would be gone.
“The porch and house were already on fire when he was there. He said it was very hot, but he had to go get the dogs.”
Ms Moody's worst fears were confirmed a short time later when her colleagues showed her news footage of her house burning down.
While the family is grateful that no one was injured and that their dogs made it out safely, they are left with nothing but the clothes on their backs.
Ms Moody said she watched news footage of her house burning on television at work
'It's devastating. It's heartbreaking. The sheer scale of it is just unbelievable,” Ms Moody said.
The family lost their home, shed and several cars in the inferno, including the rally car driven by their son Sam.
Family friend Kelly Thomas started one GoFundMe to help the family recover financially.
“Craig, Julie and the children are kind, caring, hardworking people who would do anything to help anyone in need,” the post reads.
'Some would know them from rallying. Their youngest, Sam, is an aspiring rally driver who has just lost his race car and all its spare parts!
“Let's help the Moodys get back on their feet for what will be a very tough Christmas and the coming months/years.”
The family lost their home, shed and several cars in the inferno, including the rally car driven by their son Sam
The fundraiser collected 63 donations worth $7,960 within the first 12 hours.
The cause of the devastating fire in Perth Hills has been determined to be a tree that fell on a power line during high winds about 9.30am on Thursday.
Hot, dry winds in the region fueled the flames and the flames were moving too fast for firefighters to contain them.