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A destructive fire ripped through Louise and Taylah Eder’s home, robbing them of their belongings and beloved pet dogs – and now they face the daunting task of piecing their lives back together.��

The��Canterbury��house fire has been described by��Fire and Emergency��(Fenz) staff as “one in a million”.��

Specialist fire investigator Mitchell Jeffrey said the most probable cause was sunlight hitting a magnified makeup mirror, reflecting onto a couch and causing it to ignite.��

“I would just like to remind people to keep magnifying mirrors out of sunlight, it is rare, but it is one of these things that do happen,” Jeffrey said.��

Taylah and her mother Louise were out working on July 24 when they found out their Swannanoa home was engulfed in flames.��

Louise and Taylah Eder were out when they were told their Canterbury home had been destroyed.��

Taylah told the��Herald��the harrowing events of that day.��

“I missed a call from mum in the middle of the day, which is a bit odd, because she works during the day and can’t have the phone on her,” Taylah said.��

“As soon as I saw her call, I knew something was wrong. She just said, ‘the house is on fire’.��

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“I immediately thought of the dogs, they were inside.”��

Taylah arrived at her house to see a cluster of firefighters and her mum, holding their two dogs, Beau and Bel.��

Both of them died as a result of the fire.��

The Eder's dogs, Beau and Bel, both died in the house fire on July 24.��

“I saw the house and looked at them and just collapsed to the ground,” Taylah said.��

A Fenz spokesman said 25 crew members were working on the scene at the height of the blaze.��

“Crews entered the cottage to find two dogs,” he said.��

“Significant attempts were made to revive the animals but they were unsuccessful.”��

Louise’s partner, Scott, and a group of their close friends were there, doing everything they could to help.��

“They’re just the best people on earth, we’re so lucky,” said Taylah.��

The next day, Louise and Taylah returned to the house to salvage what they could.��

“We managed to grab a few precious things, like jewellery and dog collars … not everything was destroyed but it’s more a matter of if things are even salvageable,” she said.��

Despite losing so much, Taylah and her mother are grateful it wasn’t any worse.��

“I guess at the end of the day, things are just things … but I just want to remind people to hug their dogs,” she said.��

Bel died as a result of the blaze at the Eders' home in Swannanoa on July 24.��

“They were a part of the family.��

“We’re very thankful that none of us were inside … my sister, usually we all have dinner on a Wednesday, and she’s usually at the house … so she could have very well been inside and been asleep.”��

A����set up by Taylah’s friend Lily Toulson was launched to help the family recoup their losses.��

Taylah Eder says their dogs Beau (pictured) and Bel were a part of the family.��

“I was just devastated for them, I cried … they have been through so much these past few years,” Toulson said.��

“Starting the Givealittle was the very least I could do.”��

In less than 24 hours, the page had raised more than $8000.��

“It’s honestly just a reflection of them, because they’re the most beautiful people, you know. They would do anything for anyone,” Toulson said.��

“They just have this natural gift of making anyone feel welcome. I’m so grateful that people have been able to give what they can.��

“When I posted it, I said it’s a koha. Koha means whatever you have, there’s no set amount. It’s just what you can give,” she said.��

Taylah and Louise aren’t accustomed to being on the receiving end of generosity.��

“I guess it hasn’t sunk in what’s happened, and that we really do need this help,” Taylah said.��

“We’re just trying to remind ourselves that we’d do the same for our friends in this situation.”��

An investigation into the fire is under way.��

Katie Oliver is a Christchurch-based Multimedia Journalist and breaking news reporter.��