The couple living there lit a fire in an open fireplace, then went out for a walk, he said.
“When they returned, the house was on fire.”
Fire and Emergency assistant district commander Trudi Hicklin said the fire crews were able to protect nearby structures and surrounding bush.
“But they were unable to stop the fire from destroying the house. The people living there have lost everything inside the house.”
A specialist fire investigator went to the property on Monday to confirm the cause and origin of the fire.