Firefighter Mark Gould has one word for the blaze which destroyed a home on Yarragee Road, Moruya: "Ferocious."
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The Moruya Fire and Rescue captain said a couple escaped with pets, but the house at 1 Yarragee Road could not be saved.
"The poor couple have lost everything," he said.
It was a wrenching interview for Australian Community Media reporter Claudia Ferguson, who grew up at that address before her family moved to Turlinjah.
The January 23, fire also came close to claiming the town's bus service and its arsenal of diesel fuel.
Moruya Fire and Rescue crews had a fight on their hands after the fire spread through the nearby Moruya tip to the Marshall's bus depot late on Thursday afternoon.
Captain Gould said the fire was "ferocious" and spread quickly.
"There were multiple gas cylinders exploding," he said.
"We had to save a lot of buses and diesel tanks."
The Yarragee Road site is perilously close to the Moruya township, on the hill south-west of the CBD.
On Friday morning, fire crews were mopping up before heading back to the station to rest and "see how long it lasts this time".
Watch Claudia Ferguson's interview with Moruya Fire and Rescue captain Mark Gould below.