Tumbarumba resident Rohan Lorimer came to the rescue when he received a frantic call at 10.30pm, telling him the house next to his mother’s was alight. 

Mr Lorimer rushed to the house, ensured his mother was safe and immediately made a defensive position to fight the fire. 

He was joined by about 10 other residents, who actively fought the fire. 

“It was a pretty scary call to get when my 80-year-old mother was in the house,” Mr Lorimer said. 

“I tore up there immediately. 

“By the time I arrived, the house next door was completely alight and on its way to being engulfed.” 

Mr Lorimer said residents fought the fire for about 20 minutes before the Tumbarumba Rural Fire Brigade joined them and fought for another two hours. 

While the house next door was completely destroyed, Mr Lorimer’s mother’s house received minimal damage, thanks to the community’s hard work. 

“Without other people being there to protect it, the house would’ve went for sure,” Mr Lorimer said. 

“It was a big fire and such a good effort by all. 

“It takes a lot of guts to fight a fire like that, with so many people gelling together and lending a hand. 

“I can’t pile on the praise enough, they all deserve a pat on the back.” 

Mr Lorimer said his mother, Heather, was shaken up. 

“I think it is only just setting in, as she knows her neighbours really well given it’s a small town,” Mr Lorimer said. 

“Returning home to a totally burnt out house next door is pretty hard to take. 

“I’ve never been in this sort of situation before. It was really frightening and my prayers go out to the neighbours who lost their house.” 

Mr Lorimer said he believes the cause of the fire is under investigation. 

“From what I have been told it started in a vehicle in the neighbours garage.”