Afterwards: The remains of the house after the fire.
The Cobram community has banded together to support a local family after they lost everything in a house fire in the early hours of February 15.
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The fire started at their Wallowa St home, which caught alight at 5.27am, with crews getting the blaze under control just after 6am.
Katy Darmenia, her partner Markus Cox and her three children, including 10-year-old Iesha, 21-month-old Ivy and eight-month-old Ace, all managed to get out safely.
However, the house and most of their possessions were destroyed.
After a callout for help on social media, the community has banded together to support the family, with businesses and individuals pitching in to help.
Facebook posts calling for donations of clothing and furniture have attracted over 100 comments and been shared over 150 times.
Together: Markus Cox and Katy Darmenia lost everything in the fire, but the community has banded together to support them.
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The family: Katy Darmenia’s kids; 21-month-old Ivy, eight-month-old Ace and 10-year-old Iesha.
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“The community has been absolutely beautiful, I’m so (thrown) back at the support I have been shown,” Ms Darmenia said.
A GoFundMe page, set up by Ms Darmenia’s niece Sherelle Darmenia, has so far attracted $1190 in donations.
With the house now unliveable the family is still searching for a home, with the GoFundMe money intended for rent for a future property to help the family get back on its feet.
A large number of local charities and businesses have also chipped in to help out the family.
Sherelle Darmenia said she set up the fundraising efforts for the family to give them some peace of mind that they’ll have everything they need.
“I decided to set up this fundraiser for the family because after the fire... they’ve lost everything, I wanted to give (them) that little extra bit of peace of mind,“ she said.
“This family are the type of people that will never ask for help but have always bent over backwards to be there for you the moment you need them.”
“They are overly shocked in the generosity from the community around them with all the love and care and donations of clothes and daily essentials.“
“It has all been a big help.”
Katy Darmenia is also urging everyone to check their home electrical equipment including power points, extension cables and power boards.
The CFA is still investigating the cause of the fire.
Donations of men’s clothes size XXL, women’s clothes in sizes 20-22, girls’ clothes sizes 10-12, and baby boys’ clothes size 00-0 and girls’ clothes size 0-1 are appreciated.
Homewares, appliances and furniture are also welcomed.
All donations can be dropped off at Katy Darmenia’s parents’ house at 18 Wallowa St in Cobram.
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