WINNIPEG –
A major fire ripped through a Sherbrook apartment building on New Year’s Eve, and now residents are picking up the pieces.
One of those residents was Logan King, his mother, Jacinta King, said that her son was one of the last people to escape from the burning building.
“The firefighters or the EMT who looked at him afterwards said it was a miracle that he managed to get out without any harm, no smoke inhalation or anything like that,” King said.
Sherbrook’s apartment was rented by an organization called Turning Leaf Support Services, a nonprofit organization that provides in-house support to people living with mental illness and intellectual challenges.
King’s son, Logan, is autistic and although he managed to get out safely, she said losing all of his belongings has been a challenge for him.
“The things that concern him the most are the works of art that he made in school years ago, and things like that, that you can’t replace.”
King said her son is staying with her for now, but the Red Cross has been placing most of the residents in hotels while the Turning Leaf searches for new accommodations.
In a statement to CTV, the Red Cross said:
“The Canadian Red Cross is assisting 11 people affected by the Sherbrook fire with items such as clothing, shelter, food and personal services. The Red Cross can provide assistance with basic needs for up to 72 hours after a personal disaster, such as a fire. domestic. “
Swani Landry, director of marketing and communications for Turning Leaf Support Services, said the organization will work to house displaced residents for the next several weeks, but they have lost everything.
“Many of these people have struggled with homelessness in the past, so now they have a stable home where they can feel safe and a sense of belonging, and now that is gone.”
Landry said donations of food, winter clothing and even furniture have been pouring in, and the Turning Leaf established the Sherbrook Fire Relief Fund, where people can make a monetary donation to help the displaced.
King feels for the residents of the Sherbrook apartment who have no supports in his life like his son Logan.
“A lot of the kids that live in that building don’t have (family support) and I can’t talk to them right now or anything, but it must also be incredibly devastating for them.”
Turning Leaf Services, however, provided daily support to ten of the organization’s participants who lived in the building.
The building is a total loss and will be demolished in the next few days.
Reference-winnipeg.ctvnews.ca