Fire – Thankfully Nan Wasn’t Home

HAYLEE Knight said her family are relieved her 92 year grandmother, Mona Knight, was not in her home in Aberdeen this morning when fire ripped through destroying a lifetime of precious items and leaving her home irreparable.

Mona Knight with granddaughter Hayley Knight.

Mona had suffered a fall on Sunday morning and is still being cared for at the Scott Memorial Hospital in Scone.

Her son, John Knight, who lives with her was asleep in the lounge room of the Mount Street home when the fire broke out at approximately 5am.

It is believed the fire was caused by the chimney separating from the roof of the house, caused by the footings of the old home shifting over time.

Kaylee said when her uncle woke up the roof of the house was already well alight.

“The flames were in the roof above the fire place and he went and put the little dog that they have out into the front room to try and keep her out of the way, but not let he run away and he went to get the hose and call the fire brigade,” said Ms Knight.

“Luckily Nan wasn’t at home because she sleeps in an electric lift chair which is in the lounge room, just three metres from the fire place,” she said.

“One of Nan’s biggest fears was if the house was to catch fire that she wouldn’t be able to get out of the house in time because she does rely on a walking frame and her legs don’t work like that used to, so it is uncanny that she was in hospital at the time,” she said.

“Everything in the lounge room is gone, all of the pictures of her with her sister when they were young, her parents and their wedding they are all gone,” she said.

“Thankfully we saved Nan’s handbag, but everything in the kitchen is destroyed the fridge all of the appliances, there were multiple explosions this morning in the house,” said Hayley.

Mona had house insurance but did not have contents insurance, the home will need to be bulldozed and the family are still considering what they will do.

“We can’t even fathom what she is going to need yet,” said Hayley.

“I’ve had so many people phone me today to see if she is ok and see if she needs anything and initially I thought she’d need appliances and things, but she won’t have anywhere to put it because she won’t have anywhere to go home to,” she said.

“She has owned it since the 1940’s and has always wanted to stay at home and whilst ever her son has lived with her she has been able to stay at home; she has loved being able to stay in her own home,” Hayley said.

The kitchen was completely destroyed.

Mona’s 13 year old shitsu cross poodle Tess is currently being cared for by at the vets.

“She went into shock, her body temperature went down and she had smoke inhalation,” she said.

“She’s here in Scone and they’ve had her on oxygen and had her sedated to recover, but she has been with Nan for 13 years that little dog so Nan is worried about her and the first thing Nan was worried about was paying for the vet bill,” she said.

Mona handed in her licence six years ago, but kept her car for other people to take her shopping in because she found it easy to get into, but it was also destroyed by the fire.

Related Story: Community Help Mona.

UPDATE: Wednesday, September 21 – Unfortunately Tess, Mona Kinght’s much loved 13 year old shitsu cross passed away today. “Nan is understandably upset and says how much that little dog loved her, and would go everywhere with,” said her granddaughter Haylee Knight.

The house looking through the front door.

Most furniture and contents have been lost to the fire.

The home will need to be bulldozed.