Scott Griffiths lost everything when his weatherboard home was destroyed by fire in the coastal Tasmanian town of Dunalley in 2013.
“The fire started coming over this hill to the west and it just looked mammoth it was sucking everything up in front, it was like a big jet engine coming down the hill,” he told SBS News.
His home was one of more than 60 that were destroyed that January day, in fires that were described as the worst in almost half a century.
A number of residents escaped to the nearby water where they waited for the fire front to pass.
Mr Griffiths and his family managed to get out before it was too late and spent the night at a local sports field.
When he was able to return the property he was faced with the charred remains of what was once his home.
“There wasn't much left. There was washing on the line. And that was it and that’s all we had left. It was amazing how everything just burnt the intensity in the heat of it all,” he said.
