Mom and daughter who escaped Monday house fire 'overwhelmed with the love' shown by community

Photo: Contributed

The damage inside Sandra Bouchard's house after a fire early Monday morning.

Less than three days after it was set up, a Go Fund Me for a widowed single mother and her teenage daughter has raised nearly $10,000.

Sandra Bouchard and her 17-year-old daughter Ava barely escaped the flames that raced up the outside of their rental house on Woodlawn Street early Monday morning.

Neighbour and good friend Lorena Poitras was awake and saw the orange glow. She raced over to alert the mom and daughter and helped them get out safely.

Lorena started the Go Fund Me and posted an update Wednesday to express how thankful they are for the outpouring of community support. “Sandra and Ava are overwhelmed with the love and support they have received from so many people, not only locally, but around the world! Your arms sure are long to wrap around them and embrace them with support,” she wrote.

Lorena says they don’t need any more donations of clothing or household items at this time. Sandra and Ava have temporary, furnished accommodation for the next few months.

“People have been so kind to hold onto items and to keep Sandra in mind and we’re grateful for that,” she says.

Poitras has been busy reaching out and collecting donations from those who want to help, including Heritage Christian School, where Sandra works as a substitute teacher.

“They wanted to help but they really didn’t know what to do. And I said, honestly, just gift cards, gas cards, prepaid VISA cards. Just something to get through the right now is what they need the most.”

Some of the donations to the Go Fund Me have come from as far as Australia and California.

“I believe the world has to be a better place when people help each other, even if it’s strangers and you don’t know what they’re going through. I’m a firm believer, and this is my mantra, that kindness goes around,” adds Poitras.

The Kelowna Fire Department confirms that the fire started in a plastic shed on the vacant property next door to Sandra’s house. The shed caught the cedar trees on fire and the flames then spread to her house.

Lorena told Castanet that she and Sandra had previously raised concerns about squatters on the vacant premises and she was worried something like this would happen.

She’s just grateful that her friend is okay, even if they won’t be next door neighbours anymore.

Photo: Contributed

The damage on the outside of house on Woodlawn Street.