A Terrace family is asking for support after their home was left uninhabitable by sewage flooding, as well as a fire, that occurred on Feb. 1. 

The City of Terrace hired Daudet Creek Contracting to upsize the sanitary sewer main between Graham Avenue and the CityB次元官网网址檚 Sewer Treatment Plant. It was being upsized to increase the flow, as identified in the CityB次元官网网址檚 Sanitary Master Plan. 

B次元官网网址淭here was, unfortunately, an incident that resulted in a sewage back-up,B次元官网网址� said the City in a statement. 

This incident affected not only the BrownB次元官网网址檚 home, but multiple homes in the neighbourhood near the Sewage Treatment Plant. Other homeowners affected have chosen not to comment for the sake of privacy. 

Built in 1968, the house has been the Brown familyB次元官网网址檚 home since 1999. This is the third time their home has been flooded, although it is the first time they have dealt with sewage flooding. The house is located less than a kilometre from the plant. 

The family says the sewage burst into their home from a drain in their laundry room in the basement. Later that day, they said their washing machine caught on fire as the sewage came into contact with electrical wiring, causing a short circuit. 

Fortunately, Gerald Brown, a retired RCMP officer of 22 years, was able to put it out with soaked blankets. 

The family living in the house at the time includes Gerald and Angie Brown, two of their three biological children, one of their four foster children, two grandchildren and their Chihuahua, KB次元官网网址檃lii aks. 

B次元官网网址淗ell and backB次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e definitely been better,B次元官网网址� said Angie, who works for Gitlaxdax NisgaB次元官网网址檃 Terrace SocietyB次元官网网址檚 outreach program. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e been through hell and back this last month.B次元官网网址� 

B次元官网网址淲e lost almost all our beds, including two queen size beds, a crib, a bunk bed and a single bed. The kids lost their dressers, their lamps, anything that was plugged into their TV. Our couches downstairs. All of our blankets, all of our clothes. We literally have a basket of clothes each for six of us,B次元官网网址� she said. 

The day of the flood is etched in their memory. 

B次元官网网址淥ur youngest daughter came running upstairs. B次元官网网址楳ommy, daddy, itB次元官网网址檚 wet all over downstairs.B次元官网网址� We run down and it was like a fire hydrant was coming through our floor,B次元官网网址� Angie said. B次元官网网址淚t was going all over the place. My husband stuffed the hole with a blanket. We started throwing all of our blankets and towels, the kidsB次元官网网址� clothes for laundry.B次元官网网址� 

They began to realize it was useless trying to stop it because it would start again and again. The sewage seeped through and went throughout the basement. After cleaning up everything they could, they went to their parentsB次元官网网址� house for dinner. 

B次元官网网址淲e were gone maybe an hour and a half, two hours tops,B次元官网网址� Angie said. B次元官网网址淲e left our little dog, our chihuahua, at home, because we thought weB次元官网网址檙e going to be back soon,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淲e get home and KwaB次元官网网址檚 barking like crazy because smoke was already down to the floor. IB次元官网网址檓 freaking out, you couldnB次元官网网址檛 see, it was smouldering. The stench was horrendous too because it was sewage,B次元官网网址� 

The sewage that burst into their basement from the laundry room caused an electrical fire with their washing machine, according to the family. 

B次元官网网址淢y husband managed to get the fire out himself after smothering it with soaked blankets. He was screaming at me to get kids out of the house because he didnB次元官网网址檛 know if it was going to start up again. He carried the washer out himself,B次元官网网址� she said. 

B次元官网网址淲e were coughing, hacking away like crazy because of the stench. We had to open up all the windows upstairs, open the door,B次元官网网址� she said. 

For the next several days, they stayed at their parentsB次元官网网址� house. On Monday, Angie had to call into work because the family had to rent garbage containers from Geier Waste Services Ltd. 

B次元官网网址淚t was minus -16, doing all of the work on our own. My husband, our adult kids, and son-in-law doing all of the work, getting everything out of the house in the freezing cold,B次元官网网址� shared Angie. 

B次元官网网址淲e noticed our neighbour was dealing with the same thing. We looked around and weB次元官网网址檙e like, B次元官网网址榳hat the hell is going on here?B次元官网网址� He came over to ask if we were moving out or if anything happened, and Gerald explained the situation.B次元官网网址� 

The neighbour told them to go talk to the contractors. 

Current situation

After talking to Daudet, the company paid for their accommodation at the Skeena River B&B from Feb. 7 to 10, and then an AirBnbB from Feb. 10 to 22. 

Daudet also provided B次元官网网址�$1,500 for necessities and arranged for a renovation company to assess the damage and start remediation until the BrownB次元官网网址檚 insurance company took over,B次元官网网址� said Shaun Oviatt, owner of Daudet Creek, in a statement. 

The family has been on their own since Feb. 22. Their insurance only covers fixing the basement, not interim accommodations. 

Universal Restoration Systems is currently fixing their basement. 

Since Feb. 22, the BrownB次元官网网址檚 paid for their AirBnB through fundraising with raffles with drums made by Gerald as the prize. But they were running out of funds to continue paying for temporary accommodations and were anxious to go home. 

Gerald notes that Daudet Creek has been B次元官网网址渧ery apologeticB次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址渉elpful.B次元官网网址� 

The Browns returned to their home March 2 B次元官网网址� a home that has one bed, one borrowed air mattress, and one couch left for six of them to use. 

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a good olB次元官网网址� house. IB次元官网网址檓 too old to start over again,B次元官网网址� said Gerald. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e used to it, you know? You just learn to live with it. Growing up, we used to have five families in one home.B次元官网网址� 

Holly Harris, a cousin of GeraldB次元官网网址檚 and a friend of AngieB次元官网网址檚, has organized a on their behalf with a goal of raising $15,000. As of Mar. 2, they have raised $1,025, some of which has gone towards blankets and cleaning supplies. 

The Gitxsan family, is asking for the support of nearby communities. They appreciate any help that they can get. 

B次元官网网址淭his family is so deserving of support,B次元官网网址� Harris said. B次元官网网址淭hey are some of the most active and selfless members of our community. TheyB次元官网网址檝e always been there to lend a hand, whether itB次元官网网址檚 helping with local events, advocating for positive change in our northern B.C. region, or supporting cultural initiatives. They dedicate their lives to their family, their culture, and working in social services to uplift and support others. Their impact has been felt far beyond our community.B次元官网网址� 

Gerald volunteers in schools and colleges, as well as for Search and Rescue. He also assists the Coroners Service in Terrace. 

B次元官网网址淲e just saw them at the 2025 Hoobiyee and theyB次元官网网址檙e in a cultural dance group and they were performing together,B次元官网网址� Harris shared. B次元官网网址淭hey were able to salvage their regalia from the flood and represent at the hope celebration that just happened.B次元官网网址� 

B次元官网网址淚 work in outreach, I work with homeless people,B次元官网网址� said Angie. B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 nothing like lived experience. My dad always told me, anybody is a paycheque away from living on the streets and to always be humble, treat people the way you want to be treated, because it could be you.B次元官网网址�