A single mother and her six children have lost everything after a fire destroyed the inside of their duplex on the southeast side of Bonnyville during the early morning hours of June 3.
Neighbours in the area were commended for their efforts in fighting the fire and contributing in saving the structure of the building and neighbouring homes.
Unfortunately for 29 year-old Krystal Abraham and her six children, the inside of their home and almost everything they own was lost due a combination of fire, smoke and water damage. A TV and one dresser full of clothes were the only items that survived the fire.
“I heard a pop and a window break. I thought my baby's window broke and so I got up to go check outside. I had heard a vehicle and that noise. (Then) there was a fire on my back porch, in front of the door,” said Abraham.
She quickly evacuated the home and got all of her children to a safe location. Her boyfriend then went to the backyard to check out the fire and saw a propane tank possibly fueling the fire.
“I was in shock. The kids were in shock. We were pretty upset,” said Abraham.
Bonnyville RCMP Staff Sergeant Luis Gandolfi said an investigation into the cause of the fire was conducted, which saw a fire investigator do a forensic analysis of the scene. Gandolfi said the evidence was inconclusive and RCMP was unable to determine the exact cause of the fire.
The Red Cross provided the family with an apartment for two days following the fire. Abraham and her children have since moved in with her friend Stacy Sartain, her husband and their three children.
Sartain, who has been friends with Abraham for the past six years, received a call about the fire early Tuesday morning.
“The neighbour across the road had called at about 1:30 a.m. because apparently Krystal was in shock walking around the yard saying my name,” said Sartain.
Although her house is now full, with Abraham and her six children, ages 11, eight, seven, four, three and one, Sartain felt helping her friend was the right thing to do.
“I feel anyone should do that for their best friend,” said Sartain. “My family actually lost our home when I was 15 to a fire. We lost everything too, so I kind of know what it is like to be in that boat.”
The Abraham family is extremely thankful to the Sartain's and their generosity.
“I'm very happy, they are putting up with a lot. They just took me and my six kids in. There are 12 of us here right now, so it's cluttered,” said Abraham. “I had family offer too, but Stacy's house is much more fit to put 12 people in.”
An account has been opened up at the Lakeland Credit Union for anyone wishing to donate and help out the Abraham family. Rockin Threadz has also put out a donation box at the store and will be accepting donations on behalf of the family.
Along with monetary donations, the family is in need of items to furnish an apartment when they find one. They are still looking for a new place to rent.
“I want to find a place for my kids to live in and regain all of the stuff they lost,” said Abraham. “I'm so-so. I'm holding it together but that is probably because my kids are here.”
