When Magda El Mongi heard what sounded like fireworks while watching the State of Origin game on Wednesday with friends, she had no idea her caravan home had just exploded.
About 10 minutes before the game finished the loud “boom” brought the party outside of her friend’s house to discover Ms El Mongi’s caravan was on fire.
“We were all pretty excited watching the footy, it was a great evening,” Ms El Mongi said.
“We heard all these booms going on and were thinking it was fireworks or a train rumbling. Then the next minute there was just massive explosions.
“Unfortunately, it was my very own personal firework.”
Four Queensland Fire and Emergency Services crews attended the scene at the Paskins Road property in Palmwoods, with the first crew arriving about 9.50pm.
Crews extinguished the flames by 10.15pm but the fire – which was started by a candle set in glass exploding – had destroyed her life’s possessions.
“I had lit a candle in the caravan and I forgot to blow it out and I left,” she said.
“It was just a total lapse of reason.
“I’m still reeling just thinking of how the past 35 to 40 years – actually my entire life, everything I’ve collected, all the good and sentimental stuff – is all gone now.”
A silver lining was that the explosion blew out one of her bags from inside the caravan with her mobile phone still inside it unscathed.
“It’s a miracle,” the mother said.
“The most amazing thing is that all the gum trees and all the vegetation around is almost untouched, everything else melted to the ground. It’s incredible – that was another miracle.”
Ms El Mongi has been a Sunshine Coast local for 35 years. About 10 years ago her life took a tragic turn that led her to live a humble life in a caravan, on acreage with her two horses.
The Paskins Road property owner and friend Catherine Molloy has helped to launch a GoFundMe with a target of $35,000 for Ms El Mongi.
“Because this accommodation was unable to be insured, her loss in this recent fire has been total,” Ms Molloy said.
“We will be approaching some caravan places to see if they have any older ones or show ones that we might be able to get for her.”
Ms Molloy said the Palmwoods community was already rallying to help Ms El Mongi get back on her feet.
“People have been donating anything and everything needed to start over,” she said.
“A laptop was just donated by Kristine from Bella Venezia in Mooloolaba and that bought tears to everyone’s eyes, because her laptop went up in the fire.
“Please contact me on 0449 584 240 if anyone wants to donate items or can help to organise another caravan for Magda. She wants to stay living on a property with her horses if possible.”
Ms El Mongi said she was lost for words over the community and Ms Molloy’s support.
“I’ve always tried to make my way by myself, so I’m absolutely amazed,” she said.
“Catherine is just such a wonderful human being.
“Thank you so much to anyone who is willing to donate even a dollar, bless their hearts with all my heart. I’m very grateful for anything, I have not expected anything.”
Ms El Mongi gave a gentle reminder to others using candles inside or outside their homes.
“It is incredible because I have lived with candles every single day and look what happened to me,” she said.
“So especially going into a dry season, I think people need to be extra aware and just always blow out candles when you leave your house or your room or anywhere.”
To donate to the GoFundme for Ms El Mongi click here.
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