Community gives Yarloop fire victims place to call home

Community goodwill in Broomehill and Katanning has provided a new roof over the heads of one couple who lost everything in the Yarloop fires in January this year.

On the night of January 7, Marj and Frank Price escaped with only the clothes on their backs, some medication and their car as the devastating fires burnt their hometown of 31 years to the ground.

After the fire the Prices were able to stay with friends, but with all their possessions torched they were unsure of where to turn next.

If not for the generosity of Broomehill local Gino Bassanese, who offered his vacant farmhouse to Mr and Mrs Price, the couple would still be living with an uncertain future.

The old house was quite run down as it had been vacant more than a decade and Mr Bassanese said nearly every business in town pulled together to help renovate the place.

“It needed a completely new kitchen, new bathrooms, new tiling, new patio roof, new laundry and everything like that,” he said.

“Within a month-and-a-half, we’d got it happening.”

Mr Bassanese said he would not have been able to restore the house for the Prices without the assistance of Jason and Barry Wright.

“The builders, Jason and Barry, were there nearly every day but I also have to thank Cut-n-Cote, Katanning Stock and Trade, Katanning Hardware, Katanning Glazing, Poetts Transport,” he said.

“James Beaton the plumber was always on call to help out, plus the guys at BKW, Katanning Plant Hire and Wy Wurry Electrical plus so many more.”

Mrs Price said she walked around in a daze after she realised their house had gone.

“I didn’t think anything for weeks,” she said

“But since we’ve settled in here the people in town haven’t been able to do enough for us.”

“It’s been absolutely amazing.”

Mr Bassanese, a friend of Mrs Price’s son, said the couple were welcome to stay at the house for as long as they needed.