Family overwhelmed by support after Christmas fire

A Queensland family who lost everything when fire destroyed their home on Christmas Day has been overwhelmed by support from their community.

Friends and strangers are helping Billie-Jo Randolph, Bryan Hensley and their autistic son Brayden make a new start.

While his parents thought he was asleep on Christmas Day, nine-year-old Brayden was playing with a cigarette lighter.

The fire soon took hold and destroyed the Eagleby property, south of Brisbane, along with everything else the family owned - including Christmas presents.

But since the devastating blaze, the family has been inundated with support from friends, neighbours and strangers.

“It just makes me want to cry because it’s so good,” Billie-Jo Randolph said.

“We’ve just had so much support from friends on Facebook, so thanks everybody.

“We have got phones and Brayden has got clothes, the support is just absolutely amazing.”

Brayden has a mild form of autism and doesn’t quite understand the seriousness of the situation, but his parents are just happy he is alive.