Sydney  - An Australian fire brigade Tuesday told a Swiss woman who paid for a new fire engine her generosity had failed to save her beachfront home in the Queensland town of Deepwater.

Annemarie Geckeler, 75, bought the Deepwater fire brigade a new fire engine in 2001.

But the fire brigade arrived too late to save her multi-million-dollar home at the weekend.

Geckeler was not home when the fire started.

"We never had a hope in hell," fire chief Alan Fraser said. "She's just such a generous lady, and everyone is rallying behind her." (dpa)