Tragic house fire that claimed the life of a mother-of-two leaves dad and his boys grief-stricken and facing months of homelessness
- Naomie Richings died in house fire in Orange, NSW
- Her husband was put in a coma after trying to save her
- Family living week to week in temporary accommodation
A family who lost their mother and their home in a tragic house fire is facing months without a permanent place to live.
Mother of two Naomie Richings was killed when flames engulfed her single-storey house on Pimpala Place in Orange, four hours west of Sydney on June 3.
Her husband James, who ran back inside to try to save her, was pulled out of the flames with serious burns and was placed in a coma.
Their two children, aged nine and ten, were pulled out by firefighters and taken to hospital with serious injuries.
Now more than a month later James is left living week to week and having to pack up his belongings every seven days to reapply to stay in temporary accommodation for another week.
A tragic house fire that killed a mother-of-two has left James Richings and his sons full of grief but also living week to week in temporary accommodation, fearing homelessness
Naomie Richings was killed as flames engulfed her single storey house on Pimpala Place in Orange, four hours west of Sydney, on June 3
With a long waiting list for public housing, the family has been told by the Department of Housing they could be waiting months for a home to live in.
His brother David Richings told the Daily Telegraph that the father of two is emotionally traumatised by the incident.
‘You just don’t expect these things to happen to you, every day he’d wake up (in hospital) he’d have to remember what happened to Naomie,’ David said.
‘I’ve got stuff piled up in my car that people have given us but (James) can’t take it because he still has nowhere to live.
‘Naomie couldn’t get enough of those kids, every photo I have from her is of her playing with the kids.’
A GoFundMe set up to help the family through the tough time has raised more than $16,000 but James – who lost his ID in the blaze – can’t even access the funds.
With a long waiting list for public housing, the family has been told by the Department of Housing they could be waiting months for a home to live in (pictured: home in Orange gutted by fire)
Naomi’s Facebook profile was full of videos with her children, writing her sons were the ‘kings of my heart’.
Pictures from the scene showed black smoke billowing from the red brick home as shocked neighbours watched on.
Harrowing young cries were heard as the children were treated by paramedics in the street for smoke inhalation.
Fire and Rescue NSW region Acting Inspector Dane Phillippe praised the actions of firefighters.
‘Due to their brave and rapid actions, they were able to enter the home, which was well alight and rescued two children,’ he said.
Fire and Rescue NSW Superintendent Adam Dewberry added the fire was ‘a tragedy that will be fully investigated’.
‘FRNSW is unable to comment on the details around this fire, however, there is at least one action everyone can take immediately to be safer in their home,’ he said.
‘That is to make sure you have a working smoke alarm fitted on all levels that is less than 10 years old.’
The blaze caused extensive damage to the home in Orange (pictured)
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