Helping local fire victims

Tuesday was a bad day for Marnie Macnabb.

On July 18, 2016, her family was caught in an apartment fire that killed her neighbour.

With dark smoke billowing in the hall, Macnabb and her husband grabbed their two children and headed for the balcony of their third-floor unit.

“My husband was going to throw the kids down to others, but then we saw the fire trucks coming,” said Macnabb, wiping a tear away. “They got us off.”

Macnabb's family now lives in Vernon and she is one of three women who've organized the Arbor Lee fire donations Facebook page since the July 10 disaster.

People in 14 units were evacuated, including at least 11 families, and many have lost everything they owned.

“The families have been posting what they need,” said Macnabb. “Others are posting what they have to offer to the families.”

Macnabb is urging people to join the Facebook page to see how they can help out.

Meanwhile, Macnabb and her small band – including Eliza Alfato-Reyes and Edna Suarez – are putting together a fundraising event for the Arbor Lee fire victims.

The silent auction fundraiser is being held Sunday, July 23 at Best Western Pacific Inn, 4790 34th Street, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The event will allow members of the public to drop off small donations, either of cash or clothing, toys and kitchen utensils. Bigger donations must offered on the Facebook page where some of the victims have also put links to GoFundMe pages.

“We're really hoping to raise a lot of cash from the silent auction,” Macnabb said.

A number of businesses have pitched in, helping out with gift cards and items for the silent auction.

There is concern for many of those who were evacuated, Macnabb said, because they don't have a place to live. Donated cash will help pay for a deposit on a new place or for items needed if they didn't have insurance.

Macnabb said she realizes people are overwhelmed by the B.C. fire situation but is urging them to help out the victims of this local disaster.