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'The place still smelt like Mum': Double tragedy for man who lost his house in NSW bushfire

A grandfather who lost his wife to cancer just weeks ago has had his home destroyed by bushfires.

Bill and Elaine Morris had lived in the home near Wollemi National Park for more than 30 years and three weeks ago, Ms Morris died of cancer.

Ms Morris’s children Matilda Morris and Georgia Whitaker evacuated their father from the property last week as bushfires devastated parts of NSW last week, along with the animals, before the home was razed, Nine News reported.

NSW bushfire victim Bill Morris lost his home of 30 years just weeks after his wife, Elaine, died of cancer. The couple are pictured together holding hands here.
Bill Morris lost his home of 30 years in a bushfire just weeks after his wife, Elaine, died of cancer. Source: Nine News.

"To see somewhere that has had so many memories for you as a child... the place still smelt like Mum. It's going to be so hard going back," Matilda told Nine News.

Ms Whitaker added the only memories they had of their mother was in the house.

“That property meant everything to us,” she said.

Mr Morris’s son Billy is a volunteer firefighter, according to Nine News, and was helping protect other properties from the blaze when his own home burnt down.

Wollemi lies on the outskirts of Sydney and a fire is still burning in the area.

The fire is about 19,000 hectares in size and out of control, according to NSW Rural Fire Service, and it is advised people in the area watch and act.

An aerial view of Bill Morris's home, which has been destroyed by a bushfire, near Wollemi National Park.
Billy Morris, a volunteer firefighter and the son of Bill and Elaine, was helping protect other homes in the area when his own home burnt down. Source: Nine News.

"It's unlikely we'll have it contained before more dangerous conditions come," NSW Rural Fire Service Inspector Ben Shepherd told AAP on Saturday, of the Gospers Mountain fire, which is within Wollemi National Park.

The Rural Fire Service has continued to advise those in the village of Colo Heights and Putty, west of the Hawkesbury River, to leave immediately if they are not prepared to defend their property.

More than 300 homes have been destroyed by NSW bushfires in just nine days, according to AAP.

On late Saturday afternoon, NSW Rural Fire Service said 102 homes had been damaged, which was 15 more than the last update on Friday.

However, more than 2600 buildings in areas directly affected by fire have been saved, the RFS said.

Donations to The Red Cross Disaster Relief and Recovery fund can be made online or by calling 1800-RED-CROSS (733 276).

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