The owner of a service station in Bowser, destroyed by a fire Dec. 6, said she and her family are thankful for the overwhelming community support they have received.
Carla Flegel has owned Bowser Automotive on the Island Highway, for approximately 30 years. She and her late husband Ted moved to the area when their son Thomas was a newborn.
Thomas took over as operating manager when his father died in 2020. He and his fianc茅e Grace recently welcomed a new baby on Dec. 9.
B次元官网网址淪he is a happy, healthy wee soul. ThereB次元官网网址檚 the bright light,B次元官网网址� Flegel said. She added the couple named the baby Poppy Jane Phoenix Flegel.
B次元官网网址淗e worked so hard to get everything ready, so that when the baby came heB次元官网网址檇 have some time to spend,B次元官网网址� Flegel said.
When the fire destroyed the service station, it also destroyed the familyB次元官网网址檚 livelihood and the livelihood of its six-person staff, plus a VIU apprentice mechanic.
The community has already begun to support the family, including plenty of baby things. A has raised more than $10,000 as of Dec. 11. A bank account was set up at First Credit Union in Bowser, under ThomasB次元官网网址檚 name, for people who want to help. Donations can also be made via e-transfer to ThomasRFlegel@gmail.com.
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Personal belongings, shop inventory, bookkeeping records and one of the service stationB次元官网网址檚 three tow trucks were unrecoverable. Flegel said she believes the two tow trucks in the back are OK, but she has not been able to access them yet because of the rubble left from the fire.
B次元官网网址淲e still can provide towing services,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淲hich is at least a bit of income for the guys that we can continue on with that until we sort things out.B次元官网网址�
The loss of the townB次元官网网址檚 only service station is being felt by many Bowser residents. People living in the nearby trailer parks depended on being able to regularly fill up propane tanks, but will need to further, to places like Qualicum Beach, for that service, Flegel said.
B次元官网网址淵ou donB次元官网网址檛 realize until itB次元官网网址檚 gone,B次元官网网址� she added. B次元官网网址淎nd if you lock your keys out of the car, get a flat tire or something, you donB次元官网网址檛 want them coming from Courtenay to get you.B次元官网网址�
The Esso was also one of the few remaining full-service stations in the area. The business took pride in pumping gas, washing windows and checking the oil.
B次元官网网址淢y husband, who ran it for decades, was determined that this was going to be an old-fashioned service station,B次元官网网址� Flegel said. B次元官网网址淚 think thatB次元官网网址檚 what lots of the folks in the community, especially some of the older folks, appreciate B次元官网网址� that they can come up there and someone comes out. I canB次元官网网址檛 tell you how many engines weB次元官网网址檝e saved.B次元官网网址�
ItB次元官网网址檚 too early to start looking at the process of rebuilding and the huge amount of work and expense that will be involved, but the family is determined to make it work. Flegel said Esso has told them it is on board, and agencies the service station served, such as the RCMP and BCAA, are also supportive.
B次元官网网址淭homas is eager, willing, and just like, B次元官网网址榳hatever it takes, I want to raise my little girl here in Bowser like I was raisedB次元官网网址�,B次元官网网址� Flegel said.
She added the family is grateful for the outpouring of support of the community and the service stationB次元官网网址檚 staff.
B次元官网网址淵ou go about your business and do your day and then all of a sudden something like this happens,B次元官网网址� Flegel said. B次元官网网址淎nd then you realize how many people are there and are in your corner.B次元官网网址�
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