The community has rallied to help long-time Jerilderie resident Allan Thorburn after his home was destroyed by fire on Sunday.
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Mr Thorburn was only able to escape the burning Coreen St house with his pet dog and the clothes on his back after the weatherboard home was quickly engulfed by flames early in the morning.
Already the community has jumped into action to ensure he has a place to stay, clothes to wear and other items he requires.
According to police, the fire started after Mr Thorburn re-stoked the fire in his cast iron fireplace after waking about 6am.
They said it appears the door did not close properly, and that Mr Thorburn attempted to douse the flames himself with a garden hose after it was discovered.
He was forced to abandon his attempts when he was overcome by heat and smoke.
Jerilderie Fire & Rescue NSW Captain John Crittenden said by the time firefighters were called about 6.50am, the house was well alight.
‘‘It’s an old weatherboard house and was fully involved by the time we go there,’’ Capt Crittenden said.
‘‘The fire was coming out of the roof and was impinging on the neighboring homes.
‘‘The house was fully razed, and we were lucky to save the houses on either side.
‘‘The occupant escaped with just what he was wearing and his dog.’’
Capt Crittenden said Jerilderie FRNSW had to call on assistance from the Jerilderie Rural Fire Service because of the strength of the fire and the difficult conditions.
‘‘The wind gusts were quite strong on Sunday and the fire reignited more than once,’’ he said.
‘‘We needed the RFS to help with extra water. We just could not get through the fire with the water we had access to.
‘‘It took us about 30 minutes to get the fire under control initially, and then it reignited twice.’’
Having heard about the house fire while on the road, Phil Sweeney realised there was one way he could help Mr Thorburn.
He has allowed him use of his fully furnished Jerilderie unit, usually set aside for workers.
‘‘All I did was offer a furnished flat which is not being used at this stage,’’ Mr Sweeney said.
‘‘He can use that until he finds something else that suits him.
‘‘I was brought up with an open door, and to help the people you know; it’s a community thing.’’
Also lending support to Mr Thorburn is MAKATAK, a group he founded more than 30 years ago.
MAKATAK member Loretta Marriott said one member took Mr Thorburn to Deniliquin to replace his burned bank cards on Monday, and the group has also made a small cash donation to help him get back on his feet.
‘‘We have donated $500 toward new clothing, and the members are willing to donate any linen he may need for his new place,’’ she said.
‘‘Al is the head of our club; he started MAKATAK in Jerilderie and while our goal is tor raise money for children we wanted to help out.
‘‘The group raises money for local children to help with their sporting groups and endeavours, we donate to the Royal Children’s Hospital, the Timor Leste immersion program and to both local primary schools and the preschool.’’
Another $1000 has been donated to Mr Thorburn by the Jerilderie Lions Club.
Lions vice president Paul Ryan said it was just one way the group can assist its community.
‘‘We are a community organisation and we try and help out in whatever way we can. We thought a bit of cash flow would help,’’ he said.
Mr Thorburn’s neighbor Dawn Taylor said the Coreen St fire was so ferocious her home was also damaged in the blaze.
‘‘There’s damage to the whole east side of the home, including the awnings and the paintwork,’’ she said.
‘‘There’s also damage to the cables for the split system and the windows.
‘‘But at the end of the day the house is insured and no-one was hurt — that’s the main thing.
‘‘When I saw the fire my first thought was ‘where is Al and the dog’. It was an older house and all wood, so it went up quickly.’’