It was early morning on February 6, and Madeline Miller was at her Bourkelands home while her partner Mike Ball was at work.

About 6am, a loud bang woke her up, and moments later, she realised she could smell smoke.

"I got up, and I opened the door to the front room and realised it was on fire," Ms Miller said.

"I started running around like a frantic woman trying to save all the animals. Sadly, we lost Shady [their cat] because I didn't know where he was.

"It took hold pretty quickly, especially in that first room and then it took over the roof, so things were damaged from the roof caving in. Then things got waterlogged from the firefighters."

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Ms Miller said it was traumatic standing on Titanga Place watching the rental they had come to call home burn.

She said the neighbours responded quickly and helped her to calm down and gave her water and clothes.

Meanwhile, Mr Ball was at work talking to his manager when his phone rang. He didn't answer, but when Ms Miller tried to call him a second time straight away, he knew something was wrong.

"My manager told me to answer it, and when I did, she said, 'Mike, the house is on fire'," Mr Ball said.

"I just flew out the door. It was a bit insane from my end, not knowing what was happening."

The couple lost a lot but managed to save the ashes of Ms Miller's dad as well as memorabilia from Mr Ball's mum.

After the smoke had settled and the reality set in, their friends and community rallied around to help.

Long-term friend Felicity O'Reilly set up a GoFundMe for the couple to help "alleviate the pressure" of replacing all their clothing, furniture and everyday belongings while trying to find a new place to live.

While Kylie Bean from the Busy Bean Cafe has been hosting fundraiser auctions to help raise money for them.

Mr Ball said if the fire had happened to them in Sydney or Melbourne, they would have been just another number.

But here in Wagga, he said, they could not have asked for more support.

"Our friend Alex took us in for over a month," Ms Miller added.

"Most of the stuff in our house now has been donated to us. It's been very overwhelming, and we are so grateful to see the community rally around us so strongly.

"Darren from Bobs Birdz N Pets who looked after our snake, Fleetwood, for us."

The couple said they were incredibly grateful to their loved ones, and the complete strangers who lent a hand in their time of need.

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