Listen Live

Island family loses home, dogs, belongings in Tuesday fire

After a Sayward firefighter and his family lost their home to fire this week, a GoFundMe page has been launched to help them get back on their feet.

On Tuesday, Dec. 21, Stephen (Steve) Houghton and Karin Redekopp were visiting family but came home to find their dwelling up in flames. It was too late to save anything, including their two dogs, Taco and Sasha.

“They’ve lived in that house for quite some time,” GoFundMe coordinator Natasha Lynn tells My Campbell River Now.

“Steve, the guy who lives there, is actually one of the members of the fire team in Sayward. It was devastating that he had to stand there and watch that happen while his team fought his own house fire.”

According to Lynn, Stephen’s 16-year-old daughter Sam also lost all of her memories and belongings to the blaze.

“We just want to raise as much as we can to help with any future costs for accommodations,” Lynn says, “and maybe help with anything they lost household-wise.”

She says the goal is to raise $20,000 and notes that Sayward Valley Resort and Crossroads Restaurant & Pub are also collecting in-person cash donations.

To donate to the GoFundMe and for more details, click here.

Continue Reading

- Advertisement -

Related Articles

- Advertisement -

Latest News

Every Child Matters March in Port Hardy September 30

Vancouver Island communities are starting to announce their plans to recognize the upcoming National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

Campfire bans to be lifted in several Coastal Fire Centre communities September 17

Restrictions on Category 1 fires, any fire smaller than 0.5 metres high by 0.5 metres wide, for the Campbell River, North Island Central Coast and the Sunshine Coast Resource Districts as of noon on Wednesday, September 17.

Public sector workers escalate job action as strike enters third week

The B.C. General Employees Union and the Professional Employees Association are escalating job action as their members enter a third week of strikes. 

B.C. approves environmental certificate for massive LNG project on northern coast

British Columbia has given the green light to a floating liquified natural gas (LNG) export facility on B.C.’s northern coast. 

B.C. forecast to reach record high $11.6B deficit this year

British Columbia’s deficit is only going up, according to the latest budget update.
- Advertisement -