About 40 people became homeless Friday night when a fire ripped through a building part of the Williams Inn.
Luckily, no person was killed in the blaze, though there were some close calls as the fire spread rapidly.
Unfortunately, not everyone’s pets have been accounted for.
Community support for the victims, many of whom are low-income, has been growing, and we thank each and every person, business, and organization for stepping up to help.
We urge others to follow suit and help these people out as they scramble to replace the pieces of their lives that were lost. Please help them make a fresh start.
One person the Tribune spoke to this week says he was the last person to make it out of the building, and if it wasn’t for his fellow tenants and neighbours banging on his door, he wouldn’t be alive to tell his story (see that story in Thursday’s Tribune).
And he is so appreciative of their help and of the community’s help, and is once again reminded that this community is great and, like so many times in the past, has pulled together to help others.
Let’s help that support grow. Many of the victims have relied on the community’s support in the past and now need our support more than ever.
Emergency Social Services have been assisting the victims find temporary accommodation and funds for basic needs; the Salvation Army is also coordinating further relief efforts and victims are also being referred to the Ministry of Social Services for additional help they may need; and the Central Cariboo Search and Rescue is also serving as a drop-off point for donations.
Thank you to all of them, as well as to all of the firefighters who risked their lives Friday night, and to the many others, including businesses, who are helping those who desperately need the help.