Couple left with nothing after devastating caravan inferno at Aussie tourist spot
Isabelle and her partner Dave had been on the road for only four days when their holiday took a heartbreaking turn at a popular camping spot on South Australia's Eyre Peninsula. "We had spent months planning our dream trip, and only a few days in, disaster struck," Isabelle said.
The 28-year-old content creator was helping her partner reverse the caravan into place when she suddenly noticed plumes of smoke billowing out.
"While reversing the van, I got out to help direct and ... heard the fire alarm. I saw thick smoke pouring out of the vent above the caravan front door," she recalled. Acting fast, Isabelle rushed to unhook their car and evacuate their three dogs — Lucy, Buddy and Axel — while Dave attempted to fight the flames.
"My partner [used an] extinguisher, but it was too late. The smoke was overwhelming, and it was too dangerous to be inside the van with no visibility," she said, describing the moment in a GoFundMe campaign in the wake of the freak accident.
"We managed to remove the gas bottles before calling 000, but all we could do was watch as everything we owned burned to the ground."
The pair were able to save the dogs, which Isabelle said is "what truly matters".
"But the loss is absolutely devastating. We're still in shock, struggling to process that everything we owned is just gone in an instant," she said. Although they escaped unharmed, the ordeal has been crushing.
"The dogs were really scared," she told The Adelaide Advertiser. "It was pretty hard to watch, they were shaking heaps."
While the caravan was insured, their policy only covers $1,000 worth of contents, far less than the $25,000 worth of belongings they said they lost. Among the items included cameras, a drone, a Starlink satellite, jewellery, passports, fishing and surf gear, kitchen appliances, clothing and sentimental belongings. The couple spent hours searching through the debris, but the only distinguishable items were a burnt passport and a Valentine's Day photo album.
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The tragedy has been especially difficult given the couple's recent struggles. Before embarking on their trip, they said they had lost their business "due to non-payment from an interstate company". Despite winning a lengthy legal battle, they received nothing when the company was found to have no assets to liquidate.
"This trip was meant to be a fresh start for us," the couple said. "We chose to turn that hardship into something positive by embarking on a trip in our caravan, only for this to happen."
Now, they are seeking help to rebuild their lives through the online fundraiser.
"We are hoping to raise funds to help replace some of what was lost. We went to Kmart to purchase some clothes and toiletries as we were literally left with what was on our backs. We have booked an Airbnb for a few days to figure out our next steps, and while we await advice from the insurance company. Any support — whether donating or sharing — means the world to us," Isabelle said.
Despite everything, they are holding onto what truly matters. "We're staying strong and grateful that we and our pups are safe," she said.
Earlier this month in SA, another family lost their $175,000 caravan in a blaze at the Auburn Community Caravan Park, after lithium-ion batteries inside caught fire inside.
SA's Country Fire Service said the occupants spotted smoke "coming out of the batteries" before the fire had started. They were able to exit the vehicle safely but it was too late for the caravan.
Typically, caravans use lithium iron phosphate (LiFePo) batteries rather than lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries because LiFePo is better suited for the demands of caravan power systems.
Standard lithium-ion batteries are slightly lighter and more energy-dense, which is why they're used in smartphones and laptops. But as many people pointed out, there are a range of reasons why caravanners might use lithium-ion batteries — including to charge e-mobility devices — but doing so unattended is generally discouraged.
FRNSW Commissioner Jeremy Fewtrell said "we know they are on the rise" nationally, but people are "still taking dangerous risks". "Please, heed our advice. Lithium-ion fires are happening ... almost every day," he warned.
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