Barrie students lose everything in destructive fire as neighbours rally to help
Six international Georgian College students and one family lost their homes and everything inside them when a fire broke out on Wednesday morning, but their neighbours were quick to lend a helping hand.
- Download the CTV News app to get local alerts on your device
- Get the latest local updates sent to your email inbox
Marianne Cowan said she ran outside her Tunbridge Road home on Wednesday in the early morning hours and saw flames down the street.
"[I] ran outside in the pouring rain with my daughter," she said.
Home surveillance video captured the moments the panicked students ran into the street as raging flames and thick, black smoke filled the sky.
The fire appeared to start in the garage and quickly spread, engulfing the home and adjacent house within minutes.
"Everything burned - their cell phones, their passports, their suitcases, everything," Cowan said. "I gave them water, cake, popsicles, and opened my house for nine hours."
Nearby restaurant owner Abbasi Kothari also assisted the displaced and stunned students, offering them burgers, water and other good from his Mumbai Central restaurant.
"They were so happy," he said. "You could see the ease on their faces. They could feel calm that they've got somebody who they can rely on."
"We should all help everybody, no matter where they're from," Cowan added. "If I was in their country and that happened to me, I'd want some help too."
Neighbours told CTV News that the family in the adjacent home had found temporary housing with a relative.
The six students received 72-hour accommodations from the Canadian Red Cross, with Friday night being their last at a local hotel. Georgian College will then provide them with temporary housing on student residence.
The Ontario Fire Marshal and local authorities are investigating the cause of the fire.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Families of Paul Bernardo's victims not allowed to attend parole hearing in person, lawyer says
The families of the victims of Paul Bernardo have been barred from attending the serial killer’s upcoming parole hearing in person, according to the lawyer representing the loved ones of Kristen French and Leslie Mahaffy.
'Bomb cyclone' batters B.C. coast with hurricane-force winds, downing trees onto roads and vehicles
Massive trees toppled onto roads, power lines and parked cars as hurricane-force winds battered the B.C. coast overnight during an intense “bomb cyclone” weather event.
'I'm sure Randy can answer': Liberal MPs defer to Boissonnault, PM Trudeau amid resignation calls
As the Indigenous claims controversy surrounding Randy Boissonnault continues to unfold, his colleagues are deferring questions about the embattled cabinet minister to him, and the prime minister.
'They squandered 10 years of opportunity': Canada Post strike exposes longtime problems, expert says
Canada Post is at ‘death's door’ and won't survive if it doesn't dramatically transform its business, a professor who has studied the Crown corporation is warning as the postal workers' national strike drags on.
BREAKING Canada closes embassy in Ukraine after U.S. receives information on 'potential significant air attack'
The Embassy of Canada to Ukraine, located in Kyiv, has temporarily suspended in-person services after U.S. officials there warned they'd received information about a 'potential significant air attack,' cautioning citizens to shelter in place if they hear an air alert.
U.S. woman denied parole 30 years after drowning 2 sons by rolling car into South Carolina lake
A parole board decided Wednesday that Susan Smith should remain in prison 30 years after she killed her sons by rolling her car into a South Carolina lake while they were strapped in their car seats.
Leon's, The Brick under investigation for alleged 'deceptive marketing'
Popular furniture and appliance retailers Leon's Furniture Limited and its subsidiary, The Brick Warehouse LP, are under investigation for alleged 'deceptive marketing.'
Burlington, Ont. woman accused of accepting money for fake Taylor Swift tickets
As Taylor Swift is set to perform her final three sold-out shows at the Rogers Centre this week, many people who have fallen victim to an alleged ticket scam are trying to find answers to what happened.
Calgary gorilla died after being hit by a door: officials
The Calgary Zoo says its two-year-old western lowland gorilla named Eyare died after being hit by a hydraulic door at the rear of the exhibit.