A grandmother has lost everything after a fire tore through her Ravenswood home, leaving her devastated and homeless.
Tasmania Fire Service crews from Rocherlea, Ravenswood and Launceston responded to the blaze on Warring Street around 10am today, which is believed to have been caused by an electric heater.
Connie Goss returned from shopping with her daughter to find her home engulfed in flames and thick smoke billowing into the sky.
“I’ve just lost everything. Like I’ve had stuff in there for going back 40 years,” she told 7 Tasmania.
“I haven’t stopped crying yet and I was just worried about my neighbour because she’s had animals inside.”
Launceston councillor Andrew Palmer, who was volunteering nearby, was first on the scene and immediately took action.
“I’m yelling, anybody inside? Anyone in there? Thank goodness there was no one inside,” Palmer told 7.
He made a quick decision to rescue pets from the house next door, in case the flames spread.
“Made the decision just to bang the door down and go in the back door and get the dogs and the cats out and make sure that there is actually no one inside,” he said.
The local community has rallied to provide clothes and temporary accommodation.
“No matter what happens, we’re always there for each other,” Goss said.
The TFS confirmed the property’s smoke alarm was working at the time of the fire.
The fire is believed to have caused around $250,000 of damage.
