The past month has been a trying one for many in our community.
Suspected fire bugs have been deliberately setting fires up and down the Coast. It started with three fires on Sechelt Band lands and continued with the torching of 40 vehicles at the Sechelt fire department training site on Mason Road. There was also a carport torched in Gibsons. In between those, fire crews have had to contend with two forest fires. One was in Porpoise Bay, in which Mother Nature played a part, as hydro lines were knocked down in a wind storm causing the blaze, which for a time was dangerously close to several homes. The other forest fire on Pender Hill was caused by youths playing with fireworks. There was also a house fire in Wilson Creek that completely destroyed a home when unattended candles lit some curtains on fire and the house went up like a tinderbox.
Fire crews up and down the Coast have been working overtime fighting these fires, and in some cases, have been at the fire scene for days, taking away time that could have been spent with their own families. There has been some property loss, and one person died in one of the fires, but that's a testament to the great work of our firefighters that the loss was not greater.The community has also stepped up in a big way.
During the forest fire in July in Porpoise Bay, employees from Construction Aggregates were called into action to assist, and they did so with no hesitation.
Following the torching of vehicles at the training site, where vehicles were being stored for an auto extrication competition the Sechelt fire department was set to host in September, I penned a front page story in Coast Reporter that appeared just before the long weekend.
When I talked with acting Fire Chief Trevor Pike the following Tuesday, he said they had 33 phone messages during the long weekend, most of which were offers of cars from the public to help the department get back on its feet and still have the opportunity to host the competition.
The fire department is grateful to the community, and Trevor said they were overwhelmed by the generosity.
But the community generosity didn't end there. Neighbours along Hall Road in Wilson Creek are rallying to aid Linda Nichol, whose home was destroyed by fire. Nichol has no insurance and was left with little but the clothes on her back. Recently, through a donation of equipment, neighbours gathered to clean up the debris, and donations of clothing and furniture are pouring in. A travel trailer was donated for Nichol to live in, and a benefit dance and silent auction are being planned for early September. There are also plans to host a celebration later this month to thank the firefighters for their efforts.
It's heartwarming to know that despite all this tragedy and loss, there are people willing to help, willing to give of themselves and willing to say thanks. The Sunshine Coast is a special and unique place, and we can all pull together when we need to.
