Volunteer firefighter Troy Brunton is used to putting out fires, but he never expected to lose his own home in a fire.
Mr Brunton and his partner, Penni Rawson, left their Epping home to pick Mr Brunton's kids up from school on Friday afternoon, when they got an alert on their phones saying there was a fire at their house.
They rushed home to find firefighters on their property and the house destroyed.
"The entire house is lost, there's pretty much no salvageable item," Mr Brunton said.
When they arrived home, Mr Brunton said his nine-year-old son started crying.
"I was more worried about getting my son and daughter away from the scene to prevent them seeing this," he said.
Search for dog continues as community rallies
Mr Brunton said investigators believe the fire was caused by an electrical fault in the study.
The pair are staying at Mr Brunton's brother's house while they sort out their living situation.
Ms Rawson was running a cake business from the house. She lost everything except for some cake tins, but she said Kool Kidz Childcare in Mill Park offered her the use of its commercial kitchen so she could continue making cakes.
"It's absolutely amazing — I didn't expect that at all," she said.
But Ms Rawson is mostly worried about whether her dog made it out of the house alive.
"My first thought was that my dog was in the house. The back door was open so I'm hoping that he did run out," she said.
"He's yet to be found despite the community coming together — I'm constantly getting messages saying that they're all out looking for him."
A neighbour started a fundraiser for Mr Brunton and Ms Rawson to help rebuild their lives, which has so far raised over $10,000.
Mr Brunton said he was not yet sure whether the contents of the home were insured.
The Epping Fire Brigade has also rallied around the family, sharing their story on Facebook and asking the community to donate to the fund.
"It's just been overwhelming, the response," Mr Brunton said.
Back volunteering despite experiencing the 'other side' of fire
Despite the toll of the fire, Mr Brunton was back lending a hand at Epping CFA station the next day.
Fellow firefighter Anthony Grubb said Mr Brunton wanted to help out.
"The captain politely suggested: 'we've got this, man, take a break'," Mr Grubb said.
Another of the branch's firefighters, Deborah Azzopardi, said Mr Brunton always prioritised helping others.
"He definitely puts everyone else first. Everyone in Epping CFA cares about their community — that's why we're here," she said.
Mr Brunton said the ordeal had shown him what the people he helps experience when they lose a house.
"At the time I was actually feeling really numb — looking back now it actually gives me perspective on what it's like to be on the other side of putting out a fire," he said.
