Gwynneville Home Gutted by Fire, Young Residents Lose Everything
A fierce house fire has completely destroyed a Gwynneville home, leaving three young residents homeless and tragically claiming the life of a rescue kitten. The blaze erupted with terrifying speed on Sunday afternoon, engulfing the Foley Street property and reducing cherished belongings to charred remains.
Frantic Escape as Flames Engulf Home
Residents Ryan and Maia Hennock, along with their friend Riley Kember, were going about their normal Sunday when disaster struck. Ryan was chatting with his girlfriend Summer Oxley in his bedroom, Riley was hanging washing in the backyard, and Maia was at work when their neighbour came running with the alarming news: "Your house is on fire."
Ryan described the terrifying moments: "I went out to the living room, it was all up in flames. The couch and blinds, it all just blew up. Only a part of the couch was on fire and then after a couple of seconds the whole couch was on fire." The intensity was overwhelming - walls became scorching hot, thick black smoke filled the air, and the sound of crackling flames created a frantic atmosphere.
Desperate Search for Feline Companions
As the fire rapidly spread from the lounge room to the pool room and toward the kitchen, the housemates' immediate concern turned to their three cats: Freya, Sebby, and Obi. In the chaos, Ryan managed to grab Sebby and ensure his girlfriend escaped safely. Obi was also rescued, but tragically, Riley's kitten Freya perished in the blaze.
"She was only a few months old, she was a rescue," Ryan said mournfully. The loss added emotional devastation to the physical destruction.
Complete Destruction and Asbestos Concerns
The fire consumed almost everything in its path. What wasn't destroyed by flames was ruined by water as Fire and Rescue NSW crews battled to contain the blaze and prevent it from spreading to neighbouring properties. Ryan's car, parked alongside the house, was also destroyed.
"The whole house is destroyed, it just stinks like asbestos," Ryan noted, highlighting additional health concerns amid the devastation. The residents have salvaged what little they could and are staying with friends while they process the traumatic event.
Investigation Points to Charging Battery
Fire and Rescue NSW Inspector Andrew Erlik indicated that preliminary investigations suggest the fire was caused by a car battery charging at the front of the home. The blaze developed so rapidly that smoke alarms located at the rear of the property hadn't even activated before the home was engulfed.
This incident marks the second severe house fire in the Illawarra region within two days, following another blaze in Mount Warrigal where a woman and her dog were rescued from a burning home.
Community Support Emerges
A GoFundMe page has been established to help Ryan, Maia, and Riley replace some of their lost possessions as they begin the difficult recovery process. The campaign aims to provide practical support for the young residents who have lost their home, belongings, and beloved pet in this tragic event.
The fire has left striking contrasts amid the destruction - while walls and ceilings are charred black and covered in soot, a collection of bright rubber ducks on a bookshelf remained untouched, along with books, Lego models, and a plastic plant on the shelf below, creating surreal reminders of what was lost and what strangely survived.
