General News
13 January, 2026
'Shell-shocked': One Natimuk family counts losses after fire
As residents of Natimuk and the surrounding district returned, one family faced nature's unpredictability: one of their homes remained standing, while three others nearby were reduced to twisted metal and rubble.
The Jones family home remained untouched, though fire burned the bottom step of the verandah and destroyed the fences and garden.
Fire crept under the house and set several stumps alight, but with help, they were able to extinguish it.
Family members' homes on either side of the main house were not so lucky, with three being destroyed.
Eric Jones, who will soon turn 80, said he could not believe that the home of 41 years he shares with his wife Sonia, remained untouched while his son's and daughter’s homes on either side were destroyed.
On Sunday morning, they gathered on the verandah of the remaining home with mixed emotions.
Daughter Natalie said she could only describe her feelings as shell-shocked as she looked out across the burnt wreckage of her home.
Son Graham lost his home and additional possessions that were stored in shipping containers.
Another daughter, Katie, was renting her sister’s house with her partner and two children.
They have lost everything too, but received a kind offer of a house in Horsham for now.
“It’s my grandchildren I feel sorry for,” Eric said.
“They left without shoes on their feet, they left with nothing.”
Graham was optimistic, saying they have each other, and to him, that was most important.
“We don’t need things, we have each other,” he said.
“And we’re grateful for that.”
They gave a special thank-you to Wade's Plumbing in Horsham, which reconnected the melted plumbing in their house on Sunday morning at no cost.
“The kindness of friends and community has been amazing,” Sonia said. “Without people putting out the spot fires around our house, I’m sure that would have gone too.”
Among the ruins stands an untouched trailer and a single apple tree that survived a row of fruit trees.
“I’m just glad that we have at least one house left so we all have somewhere to be,” Sonia said.
For now, the family says they are taking it one day at a time.