A Red Deer family from El Salvador must start over after a toaster started a fire in their home on Sunday.
Israel Lopez, 40, and his wife Maria Vega, 35, and their three children Xenia, 16, Claudia, 14, Israel, 10, were not at home when the fire started at about 5:30 p.m. in the duplex they were renting on Grant Street.
When they returned home about an hour later, fire had already destroyed their kitchen and part of the living room.
“It’s true. In a second, you have nothing,” said Israel Lopez on Tuesday.
When he went to work at Olymel on Monday to request time off to deal with his family’s crisis, his co-workers said his clothes still smelled like smoke.
Through a translator, his wife said she was happy everyone was safe.
Fire and smoke damaged most of their belongings. They did not have insurance.
Red Cross, which provides temporary housing, food and hygiene kits after emergencies, is assisting the Lopez family until they get into another rental unit through Red Deer Housing Authority.
The family is very thankful for the help they have received from the Red Cross and others.
But Catholic Social Services is hoping people will show some community spirit and pitch in with donations so the family can buy four new beds by the time they move into their new home on Thursday.
Vega and the children joined Lopez in Red Deer only 18 months ago so they are still new to the city and could really use the help, said Margarita Turcios, settlement counsellor with Catholic Social Services.
Donations will be accepted at Catholic Social Services. For more information, call Turcios or Anneke Lauwers at 403-346-8818.
szielinski@www.reddeeradvocate.com