A COUPLE lost everything except a single photograph when their Helensvale home was gutted by fire on Sunday night.

Wayne Quinn and his wife Rosa, both 53, were asleep in bed when they heard smoke alarms beeping about 10pm.

At first Mr Quinn thought it was the security alarm and an intruder had broken into their Leura Place house.

But when he rushed out of the bedroom to investigate, he found an orange sea of flames swiftly engulfing the back deck.

"I turned off the smoke alarm system and told my wife to get out of the house. The smoke was very thick," he said.

Mr Quinn made sure his wife, who suffers from a heart condition, was safely outside and then went back for their dog Cosmo.

The German shepherd cross labrador made it out, but yesterday the couple's brown and white cat Maddie was nowhere to be seen.

"We didn't have time (to grab anything but the photo)," he said.

Fire crews arrived in minutes and tried to save the house, but by that stage the fire had spread.

The couple could only watch as the contents of their home turned to charcoal and rubble.

Neighbours from the quiet cul-de-sac -- some of whom the couple had never met before -- made their way on to the street with offers of assistance.

Mr Quinn was taken to the Gold Coast Hospital and treated overnight for smoke inhalation while his stepson Adam cared for Mrs Quinn.

Yesterday morning forensic police taped off what was left of the red brick house and searched for the cause of the fire, which proved difficult.

Only the carport and external bricks of the building were left standing, while the mangled roof hung precariously in a rollercoaster wave. The smell of burnt timber lingered heavily in the air as a reminder of the night's destruction.

An emotional Mr Quinn arrived back at the property yesterday and scoured the wreckage of his home of 12 years, accompanied by Adam.

The only item that was saved was a photograph of Adam when he was three-years old.

Adam said: "We immigrated (to Australia) from Ireland 12 years ago and everything from the great-grannies and the rest of it is gone."

He said the home was insured.

"We've lost everything," he said.

"We've done a lot to the place since we've had it," he said.

"You're talking a fair bit of money involved."

Despite their material loss, Mr Quinn said it could have been a lot worse if it were not for the smoke alarms.

"Every six months I change the batteries and keep them up to date, otherwise I might not be talking to you today," he said.

"If you haven't got them (smoke alarms) put them in."

Back to home