Family loses everything
Published Monday January 5th, 2009
Destroyed | Captain says fire was difficult to contain
Tears fell from Rufus Price's eyes as he watched flames shoot through the roof of his home on Needle Court.
Dozens of family members, friends and neighbours stood beside Price and watched the Fredericton Fire Department battle the blaze for about three hours Sunday afternoon.
Price, who lived in the mini-home with his wife, 14-year-old son and a family friend, said no one was home at the time the blaze ignited, except for some beloved family pets.
Firefighters rescued two small dogs and a cat, and it was believed another dog ran out of the home as firefighters arrived on the scene.
Price swaddled the two dogs in blankets and neighbours brought the terrified cat into a nearby house.
He said the fire has left his family devastated.
"We lost everything," he said.
"Nothing can feel any worse, man. I lost (a home) a few years ago and everybody got out safe. Going through it the second time - it ain't good ... I know it's just a mobile home, but it was our home and we loved it."
He said the family had just completed a series of home renovations last summer, but the most important thing is that nobody was hurt.
"That's all I wanted," he said.
"I didn't care about nothing else, as long as the animals were out and nobody was in there."
Paramedics, members of the Fredericton Police Force and NB Power service technicians also responded to the scene.
Clouds of thick, grey smoke swallowed the mini-home and floated high into the air. The puffs of smoke were visible as far away as the city's south side.
Platoon Capt. Art VanHorne said firefighters got the call shortly after 2 p.m.
"One end of the building was fully involved when we got here and (firefighters) were able to get a door open and get into the first part, but there was so much fire inside that they couldn't get all the way in," he said.
"Initially we were told that there was a possibility that someone was in there, but after talking to the homeowner (we discovered) everybody was out."
VanHorne said it was difficult to extinguish the fire because the home's metal walls contained the intense heat.
"(The fire) was trapped between the ceiling and the roof, and the wind was fanning it through the vents from one end to the other," he said.
"So we had to make our way through the downstairs before we could get through into the attic."
Mike Arbeau, who is related to the family, said he was the one who noticed the home was on fire and called for help.
"They lost everything," he said.
"We'll all have to pitch in and help them out somehow. We're going to chip in and find them some shelter if we can. We'll figure it out from there."
Arbeau said anyone who thinks they could help the family should contact members of the family or the Red Cross.
Price said he's not certain where the family will go from here. He said they'll find a place to stay in the meantime and figure out their next move after they've had time to think.
"I really don't know," he said.
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Heck, if my house burned down, as long as I got out okay (I'd grab my laptop on the way out) and my pets were also saved, I'd be thankful. Material possessions can be replaced. Sentimental items (photographs) should be kept in a fire safe or remotely in a safe deposit box or duplicates kept at a relative's house. My insurance would cover everything I would lose. I wouldn't be asking for, expecting nor accepting handouts from people for things that my insurance would be replacing anyway.