Dream home’s fiery hell
A WILLOW Vale family watched in horror as their dream home was destroyed by a roaring inferno yesterday afternoon.
Father Joe Bauer and his young son were at home at the time and only narrowly escaped with just the clothes on their back and a mobile phone.
Wife Jaimie and their young daughter were not at home when the incident unfolded at the Blacks Rd home just after 3pm.
The Bauers and their property are well-known for their impressive annual Christmas lights display, which four years ago saw them named Grand Champion in the Gold Coast City Council competition.
“They have lost everything,” a neighbour told the Bulletin.
“They are devastated but they are grateful no one was injured.
“It is heartbreaking – they are lovely people.”
Joe, a keen boatie and car enthusiast, didn’t even have time to throw on a pair of shoes, running from the home barefoot before a neighbour came to his aid and gave him a pair of her husband’s thongs.
The tight-knit community is already rallying behind the family and has vowed to help them raise money to replace what they have lost and rebuild.
The overflow of help even extended to firefighters with 10-year-old neighbour Lleyton Beardsworth, 10, and his sisters taking them cans of soft drink.
“We are just really thankful for their help,” he said. “They kept saying thanks to us.”
Firefighters worked tirelessly pumping water from the dam on the property up to the massive family home on the hill.
It took more than three hours and about 10 fire trucks, including urban and rural fire fighters, to put out the blaze.
A number of bangs were heard by neighbours during the blaze and there were reports it may have been sparked by an exploding gas cylinder.
The Bauers bought the property 10 years ago and transformed it from a rural vacant block to their sanctuary and Mrs Bauer’s place of business.
The downstairs section of the house was converted into a pampering palace called Willow Vale Hair & Day Spa.
Initial fire investigations suggest the fire was non-suspicious but further examination of the scene will be undertaken.