Community members in Nanaimo have rallied around a family now left without a home following a devastating fire earlier this week.
Nanaimo Fire Rescue responded to reports of a burning house in the 100 block of Doric Avenue in Harewood at approximately 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 17.
Anna Quennelle, resident of the property and mother to six children B次元官网网址� three of her own and three fostered B次元官网网址� said it was her 18-year-old son who alerted the family.
B次元官网网址淗e discovered the fire B次元官网网址� we were all upstairs in the house, we were getting the kids ready for bed,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淎nd he was in the basement, and he came yelling up to get everybody out. And he helped get his siblings out B次元官网网址� We didnB次元官网网址檛 have shoes on or anything. We just ran out.B次元官网网址�
Everything was ablaze in seconds, she said. Fortunately, the entire family escaped uninjured, including the dogs, cats and chickens.
QuennelleB次元官网网址檚 son, who helped get the family out, does have asthma and suffered smoke inhalation but has been treated and is doing well.
B次元官网网址淚t was just mind-blowing how fast it went B次元官网网址� WeB次元官网网址檝e lost everything, but thatB次元官网网址檚 OK because if we wouldB次元官网网址檝e been sleeping, we wouldnB次元官网网址檛 have made it B次元官网网址� The stuff doesnB次元官网网址檛 matter B次元官网网址� itB次元官网网址檚 the fact that everybody got outB次元官网网址次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚f I could say anything, it would be just a plea for people to get their fire exit plan concreted because we had a couple minutes where our kids were unaccounted for.B次元官网网址�
READ MORE:
Currently, Quennelle and her family of eight are staying in a hotel provided by the cityB次元官网网址檚 emergency social services. They have been provided with food, funding, and an B次元官网网址渙verwhelming outpouringB次元官网网址� of support from community members, organizations and even strangers. She even noted that local real estate agent Dan Morris has been critical in finding them a place to stay after the hotel.
A passerby, Crystal Hallock, had seen a billow of smoke while driving in the neighbourhood on Tuesday evening. Curiosity getting the best of her, Hallock headed toward the smoke and arrived at the Doric Avenue property just as Nanaimo Fire Rescue arrived.
B次元官网网址淭he family was sitting on the road and the babies were crying. I asked them if I could get them anything,B次元官网网址� she said.
Hallock, who was talking on the phone with her best friend at the time, asked her friend to bring blankets, shoes and sweaters. She and her friend stayed until Quennelle and her family were taken to hospital.
Before Quennelle left, Hallock offered to help gather further necessities online, and in a social media post the following day, asked community members for any items they could spare that the family might need. Since Wednesday evening, May 18, more than 30 people have reached out, providing clothes, toys, books, food and even furniture. For anyone else able to donate, Hallock has given permission to be texted at 250-740-5147 or contacted via e-mail at crystalhallock@hotmail.com.
An online fundraiser has also been set up at , with the goal of $10,000 to help QuennelleB次元官网网址檚 family get back on their feet.
mandy.moraes@nanaimobulletin.com
Like us on and follow us on
