The fire of a hundred-year-old house in Pakenham has left one family devastated and the community is banding together to help them recover.
The Henty Street fire on Monday 2 June saw a heritage-listed property decimated by a sudden fire, which has left a family without a home.
Jack Dainty had only recently moved out of his family home and described how he raced back on the day after hearing the news.
His sister, Savannah, was in the residence at the time and had to flee before calling Triple 000.
“Once I showed up, I was just devastated,” Jack said.
“The whole back of the house is just gone, the front looks okay, but as soon as you walk through the door, it’s just gutted.”
Jack’s father, Darren, has lived in the house since he was a teenager and now what’s left of the structure will have to be demolished.
Initially, his children struggled to get in contact immediately after the fire, Darren would eventually arrive at the home last Monday to find that all he pretty much had left were the clothes on his back.
The home had a heritage overlay from the council. Built in 1924, it was one of the first to be built south of the railway line in Pakenham.
Currently, Darren and Savannah are staying with Jack; more long-term accommodation has been planned.
A gofundme was started by one of Jack’s close friends. In just over a week, it has raised over $13,000 from over 200 individual donations.
The funds will go to demolition works. As an old house with the possibility of materials like asbestos being handled, the cost for demolition is going to be higher than usual, possibly as high as $50,000.
The funds will also ensure other measures are covered as the family gets back on their feet, as well as assist in a hopeful rebuild on the property in the future.
Jack said it doesn’t matter how small an individual donation is, “everything adds up.”
You can donate to the gofundme page at gofundme.com/f/help-darren-rebuild-after-devastating-house-fire.
