Cara and Mike Steward and their two preschool children lost everything but the clothes they were wearing when their West Porpoise Bay home burned down Aug. 23.
Mike Steward noticed a smell of electrical burning when he arrived home shortly before 4 p.m.
"I ran upstairs, and the stereo cabinet and electric wires were in flames," he said. "I got a fire extinguisher and was on the phone, yelling frantically for the fire department to get here É It just went up, poof. Five minutes from when I was in there, it was all in flames."
Cara came home around 4:30 with the children, three-year-old Micale and two-year-old Triana, only to find her road blocked off and her cousin waiting with the police.
"They told me to remain calm. My cousin told me my house was on fire and my husband was in the hospital," she said, shaking her head as she remembered the shock of that news.
The Sechelt Volunteer Fire Depart-ment sent 15 firefighters (plus one firefighter from Halfmoon Bay), two fire engines, a mini-pumper and a rescue truck to Parkview Place, where neighbours were hosing down the embers falling from the burning house to prevent the fire from spreading.
Assistant fire chief Brian Hard-castle said neighbours' help in containing the fire, as well as flagging down the fire trucks and directing them to the scene, was significant.
"The actions of the neighbours ensured that this fire did not spread to the forested area just 50 feet away and allowed firefighters to focus their efforts on the home," said Hardcastle in a press release.
The B.C. Ambulance Service treated Mike Steward for smoke inhalation at the scene and brought him to St. Mary's Hospital, where he spent the night.
The ambulance crews also gave medical supervision to the fire crews working hard in the hot afternoon and temporarily removed at least one firefighter from duty for medical reasons.
"Thankfully, no firefighter injuries occurred during the incident," Hardcastle said.
While the Sechelt fire department had committed almost all its resources to fighting the house fire, a second fire started in a dumpster on Wharf Avenue shortly after 6 p.m. Standby crews from Halfmoon Bay and Sechelt were waiting at the Sechelt fire hall in case of such a second emergency, and they quickly extinguished the dumpster fire.
Hardcastle said the cause of the first fire is still under investigation. He praised the work of the fire crews.
"The highly aggressive efforts of the firefighters resulted in a significant save of structure as well as no spread of fire to neighbouring structures or forest," said Hardcastle. "However, the extent of damage to the home was considerable, with a total loss to the second floor of the house and heavy smoke and water damage to the main floor."
That damage was devastating to the Stewards, who were renting the house. Their belongings were not insured; on a very tight budget, they felt they couldn't afford $40 a month for content insurance.
The Stewards both work full-time and, after some difficult years, felt that they were finally getting ahead financially."We've been working like mad people. My husband works about 80 hours a week to get to the point where we have the things we need," said Cara.
The loss of their possessions, especially the children's things and Cara's first wardrobe of nice new clothing in years, was a blow. But the couple is trying to keep that loss in perspective.
"You see it on TV and you hear about it but when the time comes that it happens to you, you really have to learn it's only material things. You never know when you're going to lose it all," said Cara. "All that matters is, we're all OK. Everything else is just material."
Friends and strangers alike have stepped forward to offer help to the family. Micale and Triana are staying with relatives on Vancouver Island, and friends have offered the Stewards a temporary place to live, but they are in need of a long-term home."We are excellent tenants. This fire was not our fault," said Cara.
Cara works at the Hot Tamales store in downtown Sechelt, where her employer Andrea Wray is collecting needed items for the family.
"They have nowhere to live, no furniture, no dishes, no nothing," said Wray.
Wray said Hot Tamales is accepting donations for the family, such as furniture, household supplies and clothing. The Stewards have six children altogether, although only the two youngest live with them full-time. They particularly need toddler beds, outdoor toys and other children's supplies.
Another friend has opened an account at the Sunshine Coast Credit Union where people can make donations to the Stewards. The account number is 734160.
Sunshine Coast Community Services, located at the end of Inlet Avenue in Sechelt, is also accepting donations to help the Stewards get back on their feet.
"We can act as a depot for people who might want to provide stuff or money, and we can organize pick-up and delivery," said Diane Evans from the community services office.
The Stewards said they are overwhelmed by the generosity they have received.
"I've never seen a community pull together so quickly for the underdog as I have the last two days," said Cara.
They especially want to thank their friend Sophie Fairchild, landlords Scott Baker and Kelly Bremner and the firefighters who worked so hard to put out the fire and managed to save a few of their belongings.
