UPDATE: A Werribee woman is devastated and “left in ruins” after she lost her home in a fire on Monday, March 9.
Mother-of-two Kelly La Mude says she and her grandson had caught the train to the Moomba festival, and arrived back at her Gloucester Court home to find it alight.
Fire crews from Werribee, Wyndham Vale and Hoppers Crossing attended the blaze about 3pm.
“The roller shutters were down so the neighbours couldn’t see it was on fire. The gas built up and it exploded everywhere. I came home to find my house burnt to the ground,” Ms La Mude said.
“I’ve lost everything and been left with all this mess I have to pay for. We don’t even have a place to sleep.”
Ms La Mude says she did not have the home and contents insurance, but believed building insurance was included in the mortgage repayments with her bank.
“I had no contents insurance because I was paying a mortgage on a disability pension all on my own, but I always thought we were covered for the building,” she said.
“The bank have said they will freeze our mortgage payments for three months only.”
Ms La Mude believes a faulty phone charger in her son’s room was the cause of the blaze.
Werribee CFA’s First Lieutenant Darryl Wells said the fire was being investigated by an arson chemist and a CFA fire investigator.
Werribee Detective Senior Constable Frank Fierro said he would receive a report on the investigation’s outcome in four weeks.
“Until that time, it remains open and investigation will continue.”
Earlier this month, an iPhone plugged into a power adaptor was blamed for a blaze which gutted a house in Austin Street, causing damage estimated at more than $430,000.
The Australian Red Cross has provided clothes and a few days of crisis accommodation for Ms La Mude, her son Luke and grandson Levi.
“Yarra Community Housing told us we need to arrange a private rental after that. Where do you get four weeks’ rent and a bond when you’ve lost everything? I can’t stay on the street with my grandson,” she said.
“As embarrassing as it is I need to swallow my pride and ask for help … any help would be much appreciated: 0406 007 089.”
