A SEAVIEW family is reeling from a devastating fire that destroyed their home and claimed the lives of their beloved pets on Monday morning.

Ruchelle Wessels said there was no one in the house when the fire started.

“My grandmother was in the outside building,” she said with a sigh.

The three-bedroom house in Redhill Road, Seaview, has been the Wessels’ family home for 22 years.

Also read: Home fires on the rise, caution urged

Speaking to the Queensburgh News, Wessels said she shared the home with her parents and 16-year-old brother who lost all his school items. The family’s pets, a dog, a porcupine, birds and fish died in the fire.

“We are still a bit overwhelmed with a lot of emotions and things running through our minds. It has been a big loss for our family as it is years of memories and work that went into our house and everything we have.”

She added that they do not know what started the fire and extended her gratitude for the support they have received thus far.

To assist the family, contact Ruchelle Wessels on 079 264 8324.

@caxtonlocalmedia A fire in Seaview destroyed the Wessels family three-bedroom home which they have lived in for 22 years. No human lives were lost, but sadly, their pets didn’t survive. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. #highwaymail #fire #durbannews ♬ original sound – caxtonlocalmedia