Seller pulls property from market to help family displaced by Arras house fire find new home

DAWSON CREEK, B.C. — An Arras family whose house burnt down in March may have finally found a new home.

On March 12th, the Grenier family lost everything when their log house went up in flames.  

Brad Haywood, a former resident of Dawson Creek, has now agreed to allow the Grenier family to rent his old house.

Haywood’s property was previously on the market, but when he heard about what happened with the Grenier family, Haywood says he knew he had a chance to do something about it. 

“When I heard what happened, needing a large house for them to be housed in, we figured the best way would be to take the house off the market so they would have somewhere to call home,” Haywood said. 

Haywood says when Grenier toured the house and realized it would be suitable for his family, he was ecstatic and couldn’t wait to tell his wife.

Grenier says the family is waiting until they can get bunk beds for his kids, before moving into the house with the 11 of his 20 children who live with him. 

Since the fire, the family has received an outpouring of support from the community, says Grenier. 

“It’s been unbelievable,” Grenier said. “Normally we’re the ones that are giving, but now we’re at the receiving end, which is a different feeling entirely, but it’s been great.” 

Grenier said people have donated clothes, food and even furniture. 

The family is currently staying in a hotel in Dawson Creek. Grenier says the city paid for the family’s first three nights of accommodation. 

According to Grenier, the family is just looking forward to moving into an actual home. 

The day of the fire, he had left to drive his wife to work. Upon returning, he found his house engulfed in flames, Grenier told Energeticcity.ca. 

Only three of Grenier’s 11 children were inside the house when the fire broke out. One of his daughters suffered from cuts and frostbite, but all the children inside survived. 

The family is seeking donations, including blankets, sheets, toys and clothes for kids aged two to 22 years old. 

All donations can be delivered to the front desk of the Aurora Park Inn and Suites in Dawson Creek.

 A GoFundMe raising money for the family has also been set up.