Just 48 hours after flames reduced her home and a lifetime of memories to ashes, the 51-year-old battler is still choking back the fumes and the tears.

As she treads through the shell of her West Parade home, stepping over a pile of charcoaled photo albums, alook of loss and despair washes over her face.

The mystery blaze which gutted her home on Sunday afternoon is still a blur of nightmarish images, but the disabled pensioner admits there is one horrifying moment she just can't shake.

"I knew my two chihuahuas were still in there and I couldn't stand by and let my babies burn," she said.

"I remember running into the house, I couldn't breathe or see anything, but I knew if they heard my voice they would come running.

"The next thing I knew I was at the back door, kicking and screaming and some fella had me in a bear hug.

"It's just terrible and everytime I close my eyes I just think about what happened to my little babies."

But out of the ashes has come a new kind of hope, with the tight-knit Hill Top community already starting up a collection at the local post office.

"The support has been overwhelming and the people in Hill Top are just magic," Mrs Egner said.

"I have had millions of offers for help and there are just too many people to name.

"I don't know where I would have started without all the help."

But for many locals, the mountain of generosity is no surprise.

For the past 23 years, Mrs Egnar has been a Hill Top icon, taking in countless sick animals and offering help and a smile to anyone down on their luck.

Emergency crews were called to the home at around 5.45pm on Sunday but despite a quick response time were unable to save it.

And Mrs Egner remains as baffled as everyone else at what might have sparked the blaze.

"I just remember seeing flames coming up from the TV set and I ran out to get the hose," she said.

"Then I tried to ring 000 but it kept telling me I was dialling the wrong number.

"Before I knew it the fire was everywhere and I had to back out."

Anyone who wishes to help Mrs Egner can contact the Hill Top Post Office.