A Vancouver family lost their home in a fire and are now trying to put their lives back together.
Firefighters responded to a three-alarm blaze in the 1000-block of East Pender Street on Monday just after 8 p.m. Multiple houses were engulfed.
Once they were on scene, they saw heavy flames coming from residential homes, which ignited tall trees close by, extending flames 100 feet in the air.
It took 55 firefighters to get the fire under control as of Tuesday morning.
Vancouver Fire Rescue Services say 12 people are now displaced after their homes were damaged by the fire.
Cynthia Farrell says her brother and his family lost their house.
“My brother and his family are now displaced and will need help getting back on their feet,” she writes on a GoFundMe page. “They lost everything they own, including their ID.”
As of publication time, a total of $35,235 had been raised for the family, surpassing the $35,000 goal.
"They have two children who now have nothing,” says Farrell.
The funds raised will help buy much-needed medications, food and furniture for their future.
Another GoFundMe has also been launched.
The cause of the fire is under investigation. A total of three houses sustained significant damage. One of the houses has smoke damage.
Two people had minor injuries and one of them was transported to the hospital.
