‘I was so scared’: Community rallies after family home of 11 children destroyed by fire

ARRAS, B.C. — A Peace region father says he’s “choked up” about the community support they have received after a deadly fire.

Guy Grenier is a husband and father of 11 children who were living in a log house in Arras which went up in flames on Thursday, March 12th. 

“I was so scared,” said Grenier. “I left the house at 10 after eight, and my daughter called us in a frantic panic at quarter to nine.”

Grenier, who had left to drop his wife off at work, came back to see his house engulfed in flames. 

While only three children were inside, they all got out alive. Grenier told Energeticcity.ca one daughter had minor injuries, including cuts and frostbite. 

“The kids were barefoot with no socks,” said Grenier. “One of them didn’t even have pants on. It was -17 degrees outside.”

Unfortunately, some pets – including cats and a dog – perished in the tragedy.

“One of our dogs went back to the house because he couldn’t see my wife and I,” said Grenier. “He went back into the house to try and save us.”

While the house was insured, Grenier said the contents within – including appliances and furniture – were not.

Grenier told Energeticcity.ca his insurance company estimates it will take 18 months – and cost between $900,000 and $1 million – to rebuild the property, which means they will have to rent in the meantime.

Currently, the family is staying in a hotel. 

In the interim, the Peace region community has stepped up, including his sister-in-law, Cynthia Manfron.

Manfron organized a GoFundMe campaign with a goal of $6,000 which has generated $3,800 as of Thursday, March 19th.

Grenier says he has also seen companies and individuals around the area donate clothes, grocery gift cards and more.

“I just came back from a gentleman that his organization donated $500 for groceries,” said Grenier. “They gave us a cheque for $500. Somebody came up and gave us a bunch of clothes for the kids. That to me is unreal. It chokes me up inside.”

View the GoFundMe here.