Family who lost their newly renovated home to a house fire believe it was started by a jug of water left in direct sunlight
A family that lost their recently renovated home to a fire believes the blaze was started by a jug of water left on a dog kennel in direct sunlight.
Security vision of Joel Quioc’s backyard in the Perth suburb of Ellenbrook last week shows the jug of water smoldering after heat bounces off a window.
Minutes later, the wooden kennel bursts into flames as the family dog Mylo starts barking to sound the alarm.
Mr. Quioc’s mother came home shortly after taking her teenage grandson to school to find smoke billowing through the house, grabbing the dog and shouting triple-0.
“The sunlight had caught the jug of water and acted like a magnifying glass,” Joel Quioc said Seven news.
Joel Quioc (pictured with his mother) and his family had to find alternative accommodation after losing most of their belongings in a horror house fire
“I know it’s outrageous, even my wife thought it was.”
The family lost most of their belongings after the fire wreaked havoc in the kitchen, living room and bedroom, despite firefighters’ best efforts to contain the blaze.
Mr Quioc was on jury duty at the time of the fire while his wife Donna was at work.
“We’ve just done some renovations, so to come home there was devastating,” Mr Quioc said.
The Quiocs have found a furnished rental home that they will be living in for the next six months.
But it could be up to a year before the family can move back into the house with a supply crisis currently plaguing the construction industry.
Firefighters said the cause of the blaze remains unclear and believe there may have been several sources of ignition, including electronic devices that were nearby.
The family believes a pitcher of water on top of Mylo’s kennel started the fire
The Ellenbrook community in Perth has gathered around Joel, his wife Donna and son Tyler
In the past two months alone, firefighters have been called to 249 structure fires in WA, 60 more than the same period last year.
The community has rallied behind the Quiocs and launched an online fundraiser to replace their belongings and rebuild their lives.
“If you are lucky enough to know them, you know what I mean when I say they are a true gift to our community and I wish there were more people like them,” a friend wrote on the page.
“We know times are tough for everyone right now, but if we can all pull it together a little we can do a lot for this beautiful family to get them back on their feet.
Before and after photos show the extensive damage to the Quiocs’ newly renovated home