The neighbours called Journee, who rang Cameron at work.
“[It is] pretty unbelievable.
“[I] thought it was a bad dream at first, but then you see it, and it’s like ‘oh man holy s***’.”
Cameron and Journee Hooper lost almost all of their possessions after a fire at their home last Saturday.
Cameron said he has thought of how much his family would be set back and how they would have to start again.
The fire investigator told Cameron the blaze was caused by a faulty power multiboard.
“The fire started in the main living area but it spread across pretty much everywhere so all the bedrooms are fried; all the daughter’s teddies, all the clothes and everything have gone.”
The family have lost almost all their possessions. Cameron said he went to brush his teeth and realised he did not have a toothbrush or toothpaste.
The couple took off their wedding rings to sleep and thought they were lost in the blaze, however Journee found them yesterday among the ashes of the burnt bedside table.
“She also found our wedding vows, which is actually pretty cool we’re going to frame them because they’re burnt around, but you can still read them.
“[We’re] trying to stay positive, and finding things like that makes you feel a little bit better.”
The family did not have insurance, so they have taken a financial hit, Cameron said.
They had been living in the house temporarily as they planned to build a new home on the property, he said.
Firefighters battling the blaze on Saturday night.
A Givealittle page has been set up by a family friend to help them with emergency accommodation, clothing, food, toiletries, bedding, household essentials, school items and replacing essential belongings and appliances.
Two days on from the blaze, Cameron said his family are taking it one day at a time and haven’t been able to think of long-term plans.
Their daughter is holding up well, but they have not taken her to see the wreckage for fear she would be traumatised by associating the home with pet rats who died in the fire.
The family are staying at a friend’s place and have been offered accommodation by family and friends.
A large amount of support has been provided by the community, family friends and their daughter’s school, which the family are “humbled” by and grateful for.
Cameron advised people to check their fire alarms and multiboards.
“We weren’t home, but if we were, they [smoke alarms] might have saved us.”