Adelaide family's new home gutted by blaze two days before Christmas
An Adelaide family has lost everything two days before Christmas, after their new home went up in flames.
Fourteen people, including 11 children, were lucky to escape the inferno that destroyed the Munno Para West property, in the city's north.
Three adults and 11 children were comforted by neighbours as they watched flames engulf their Peerless Road house.
Amazingly, everyone got out safely after a fire started in the garage.
“One of the kids was screaming saying there was a fire inside the house so everyone just jumped outside and started crying," victim Joseph Muchengwa told 7 News.
“Pretty much everything inside is lost. We feel really shocked.”
A neighbour said the roof and doors "melted".
"Next minute the flames started leaping out under the awning there and I thought they were going to jump onto the house next door,” he said.
Thirty firefighters stopped the fire spreading to neighbouring properties, but the house became gutted.
Relatives from Queensland were visiting the mother and five children for Christmas.
“[I] feel so sorry for her, she's a single mother,” a relative said.
Another neighbour said: “So bad, I feel so bad.”
“Like they've lost everything it's heartbreaking.”
The family is devastated with the tragedy, occurring just two days before Christmas.
Damage has been estimated at $300,000. The family had only just bought the house a month ago, but fortunately they are insured.
The cause of the blaze is still unclear and police are investigating.
