The early-morning blaze at the house on Sixth Line, just north of Steeles Avenue, happened when the couple was away celebrating their 10-year wedding anniversary at their cottage in Gravenhurst. Fortunately their three young children -- aged seven, six and four -- were away as well with relatives.

The Wallers were having a great time fishing and golfing in cottage country. But one phone call changed everything.

"We got a call at 6 a.m. from the police saying we better come home," Lynda recalled. "I was just so relieved that none of us were in there."

The fire, which is estimated to have caused $200,000 damage to the property and the Wallers' possessions, has left the family of five homeless and living in the Holiday Inn Express in Milton.

The blaze is being considered suspicious because the home was empty at the time.

The Milton Fire Department was first on the scene shortly after 5 a.m. on Sunday. Upon arrival, crews noticed flames shooting through the roof, said Milton Chief Fire Prevention Officer Doug Shortt.

Within about 20 minutes, the 21 firefighters who responded had the blaze under control, Shortt said.

"That was a really quick knock down," he noted.

The Halton Hills fire department took over the scene shortly after to conduct salvage and overhaul operations.

"We spent most of yesterday (Monday) sifting through debris and rubble," said Capt. Dave Pratt of the Halton Hills Fire Protection and Prevention Services. "They really have lost everything."

But the salvage crew was able to recover something that's very near and dear to Lynda's heart -- her wedding ring, which she leaves at home for safe keeping when taking part in activities at the cottage or the Milton Ladies Softball League, which she's the president of.

"It was so amazing to get that back," said Lynda. "It's a bit charred, but I can get it cleaned."

The family stopped by their fire-ravaged home again yesterday to survey the damage for themselves.

"Looking from afar is not so bad," said Lynda. "But once we go inside and see our things and say, 'Oh, remember that?' That will be the hard part."

Pratt said the Ontario Fire Marshal was called in to investigate along with the Halton Regional Police fraud unit, which looks into suspicious fires.

The cause of the blaze is currently undetermined.

Pratt explained the drywall and structural membrane of the house had been burned away, leaving no evidence of burn patterns to help identify the origin of the fire.

He also said no appliances had been left on.

The fire marshal took some samples from the home in an effort to determine how it started.

The Wallers are now working with their insurance company to get into a new home.

In the meantime, the community is stepping up to help out the family.

Friend and neighbour Sheri Klutt has established a trust fund for the Wallers and has also been busy contacting people in the Pineview Public School community -- the school the families' children attend.

So far, some donations of clothing and toys have come in, said Klutt.

"It's so hard to see a four-year-old bawling because his toys are gone," she said.

Lynda said she lost the charger for her cell phone -- her only phone these days -- in the fire as well, but the local Rogers Wireless store was kind enough to give her a new one.

"Everyone has been amazing," she said.

Those wishing to make a donation to the family can do so through the trust fund at the Scotiabank branch in the plaza at the corner of Laurier Avenue and Ontario Street.

The account number is 684520405825.

Melanie Hennessey can be reached at mhennessey@miltoncanadianchampion.com.