Narla Retreat fire victims have slowly started to have their first look at the devastation caused by Sundays inferno that destroyed 52 homes.
ONLY when she saw how the windows in her house had melted, not shattered, did the true ferocity of the Perth Hills bushfire hit home for Stacey Delich.
Allowed to return to her Stoneville property for the first time today, Ms Delich was confronted with a blackened mess where her life used to be.
The photos she had been sent and viewed on her phone did not do the damage justice.
"The glass didn't shatter, it melted," Ms Delich said.
The ruins of homes destroyed in Matthews Way, Stoneville. Picture: Colin Murty
"It's emotional but we can only do so much now. It's hard to get anything done right now and have a proper look.
"We will have to contact the insurance company and see if we can salvage anything. If we can find anything, that's a bonus."
A family of collectors, Ms Delich's mother-in-law had lost a doll collection worth tens of thousands of dollars and her father two classic cars.
The ruins of homes destroyed in Matthews Way, Stoneville. Picture: Colin Murty
Trophies and medals from her grandfather's soccer career were also reduced to ash.
"They're things that can't be found any more ... they're all gone," Ms Delich said.
More than 50 families who already knew their homes had been swept away by Sunday's fierce firestorm were allowed to return the charred ruins for the first time today.
The ruins of homes destroyed in Matthews Way, Stoneville. Picture: Colin Murty
For hundreds of others however, the extent of the damage is still unknown, as they prepare to return to the cold reality of what authorities are calling the "warm zone".
Brian and Margaret Griffin, Hills residents for 14 years, saw flames lapping at their generator shed before they left and are hopeful their home has been spared.
"We just saw the smoke and the helitac going around and less than 20 minutes later we saw the flames so we got out," Ms Griffin said.
The ruins of homes destroyed in Matthews Way, Stoneville. Picture: Colin Murty
"We were right on the edge."
The Griffins, like scores of others, queued for permits which would allow them to return to their homes through the continuing roadblocks and hoped to assess the damage later today.
Neighbour Jason Gauchi was also in the dark, and living in hope. He and his family, including children aged 20 months and three months, were planning to move into their dream Hills home next week.
"It was just going to be a complete change in the lifestyle - now it is just a lot of unknowns," he said.
Colin and Sue Daniels have lived in the Perth Hills for 28 years and were sure their home had been destroyed.
But no news from the Mundaring shire, who contacted all those whose properties had been destroyed, was extremely good news.
"On the video flyover (taken from a fire authority helicopter), I think I saw the roof of our house and it looks in one piece," Mr Daniels said.
He admitted his personal relief was mixed with guilt.
But Ms Delich said those who were lucky should not feel guilty about it. "It's bad luck and that's all it is," she said.
"We live in the bush and we know it can happen, and unfortunately it happened to us."
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