Family of 7 'lost everything' when fire gutted their home in River East neighbourhood

A couple in their 30s and their five young children are alive after a fire ravaged their Winnipeg home, but it turned some of their belongings into piles of rubble and left them without a place to live.

Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Services responded to reports of a blaze at the bi-level house on the corner of Hathway Road and Rothesay Street around 7:45 p.m. on Saturday, the city said in a news release. 

Larry Hobson told CBC that his son Dillon, his daughter-in-law and his five grandchildren, one younger than a year old, had been living in the house since last year. 

"They're very young and hard-working, ambitious," he said. "They're good people and when this happens, it breaks your heart, 'cause they have lost everything." 

The smell of smoke alerted the family to the blaze while they were making dinner, Hobson said, forcing them out of the house with only the "clothes they had on their backs." 

After getting everyone out of the house, Dillon ran barefoot to the fire station down the block, Hobson said.

Firefighters met heavy smoke and flames pouring out of the house, the city said in a news release. Crews entered and fought the fire from inside. They declared it under control around 8:20 p.m.

"These things can happen, but you never think they're going to happen to you or your kids or your family," Hobson said. "It's devastating."

It is unclear how the fire started, but Hobson said the family believes it was an accident involving a dryer vent. The city said the blaze is under investigation, and the damages are still unknown.

Hobson said while the house was still standing, fire, water and smoke damage gutted it inside, leaving the family without a place to call home. 

"They loved it," he said. "It had many rooms. It was big, it was warm, it was comfortable, it was loving, it was inviting. It was everything you would want in a home." 

Some of the family belongings, including clothes and toys, were reduced to a pile of rubble sitting out in the backyard.

While the landlord of the house has insurance, that only covers damages to the building itself, like walls and appliances.  Furniture, clothing, electronics and other belongings fall under tenant insurance, which the family didn't have, Hobson said. 

The Canadian Red Cross relocated the family to a hotel for a few days, but without a home to go back to, they are now relying on community support. An online fundraising campaign has been set up and they're accepting donations for everything that might be needed for a home. 

"Nobody lost their lives. That's the greatest thing of all," Hobson said. "We're just hoping … some people can reach out and offer some help."