Before the floods, a devastating fire displaced a large family from its home on Tussie Road between Crofton and Chemainus.

Fire ripped through the top floor of a home owned by Dora and Joanna Edwards, who each have six kids and are also looking after their younger sisterB次元官网网址檚 five children.

B次元官网网址淓veryone got out OK,B次元官网网址� said Ieashia James, who has started a page for the family. The fund has raised $1,670 as of Thursday afternoon.

Crews from the Crofton and Chemainus departments managed to extinguish burning contents within a room at the residence just after 5:30 p.m. last Friday.

Crofton and Chemainus crews were then dispatched again around 1:15 a.m. to a fire at the same residence that was fully involved when they arrived.

B次元官网网址淚ncident commanders on scene called for a second alarm for additional resources from Maple Bay and South End halls,B次元官网网址� noted Martin Drakeley, North Cowichan Fire Department chief. B次元官网网址淭hat investigation was handed over to the RCMP as it is on federal lands and we cannot comment further.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淢ost of the top floor caught fire,B次元官网网址� said James. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 pretty bad.B次元官网网址�

She added itB次元官网网址檚 not known what caused the fire.

Even though the entire family escaped unharmed, they might have been forced to flee their home Sunday night or Monday morning, as flood waters engulfed the area.

B次元官网网址淲e are very grateful that everyone made it out safely, now I would like to get together a little bit for their essential needs for the days to come,B次元官网网址� noted James. B次元官网网址淭his family has always been a very close family, theyB次元官网网址檝e always been side-by-side.B次元官网网址�

The family initially went to the Frank Jameson Community Centre in Ladysmith and then was housed at the Best Western Plus Chemainus Inn for one night. They have since been relocated to small apartments above the Salish Sea Market in Chemainus.

B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檙e not sure how long theyB次元官网网址檙e able to stay there,B次元官网网址� said James.

She knows the family well, as her partner Charlie Edwards is from the Tussie Road area as well. HeB次元官网网址檚 also a cousin to Dora and Joanna and B次元官网网址渢heyB次元官网网址檙e like his sisters,B次元官网网址� James noted.

B次元官网网址淔rom what I gathered from the girls, they were kind of in disbelief and shock. You could see the worry on their faces. They didnB次元官网网址檛 want to be separated.B次元官网网址�

James started out doing a deck of cards draw to raise money, but then went to the GoFundMe and itB次元官网网址檚 just started to gain momentum to help the family.

B次元官网网址淭he GoFundMe is the best route because I just kept sharing everywhere,B次元官网网址� she added.

People can help by going to the GoFundMe page or messaging James under Rha-anne Sylvester on Facebook. Tim Joseph Sr. is also accepting clothing donations for the family at 447 Jubilee St. in Duncan.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 all for the family and the kids especially,B次元官网网址� said James. B次元官网网址淣ot being home will be a big adjustment for them. We want people to know how appreciative we were that people were still donating even though the floods were still going on.B次元官网网址�