Steve and Deborah Mamic lost everything when their house near Tabor Lake caught fire early yesterday morning (Nov. 1).
The Prince George family's home on Rondane Crescent burned to the ground and the couple escaped with only the clothes on their backs.
After witnessing the fire, the Mamics' neighbour David Mothus started a GoFundMe to help the family get by in the coming days.
In under 24 hours, the GoFundMe has reached nearly $10,000.
“They just live down the road from me and I saw the house catch fire and so I just walked down the road and saw them standing outside,” explains Mothus to PrinceGeorgeMatters.
He asked the Mamics if they were okay and if they had house insurance which they do, but said he wanted to do something so they could have some ‘don’t be stressed’ money while they adjust.
“It’s not about need it’s about being neighbourly. It’s a little thing you can do to let them know you care.”
Mothus says the fire was so intense that within a few minutes the house was completely consumed in flames.
A terrifyingly stark reminder to have a fire safety plan in place for your family. The neighbours house went up in spectacular fashion at 6am this morning. Everyone got out safe! Thank you to the Volunteer firefighters from all over! #CityofPG #Valhalla #Rondane pic.twitter.com/xUpmlReHlt
— Tracy Calogheros 🇨🇦 (@TracyCalogheros) November 1, 2020
“Ten minutes after the fire started, the house was completely engulfed,” says Mothus. “It’s burned down to the foundation. Now there’s only a concrete pad on the ground.”
Mothus says he did not expect the GoFundMe to take off so fast.
“I knew we would get some from the people on the street but I am as shocked as anybody about how many people are offering support.”
He says initially he was just trying to get the neighbours on the street to donate and didn’t expect so much community support.
“Other times you see people who have lost everything and very little happens,” says Mothus.
“I think right now everyone is very sensitive to the fact that the world is very wonky and they know how bad that would be if you didn’t even have a home now.”
The cause of the fire is currently unknown.
As of publication, the GoFundMe has raised $9,160, and if you feel inclined to donate, you can do so here.
