More than 100 people have lost their homes
Special to The B.C. Catholic
A massive fire that ravaged a 60-unit White Rock residential complex also caused significant damage to a Catholic community building.
“I live right across the street from the (Star of the Sea) community hall, and while I was in bed, I heard some crackling noises,” recounted parishioner Walter Johanson. “No sooner did I put my feet out of my bed than every emergency siren for every possible vehicle went off.”
The fire started near Johnston Road and Buena Vista Avenue in the Five Corners area of White Rock May 15, then soon spread to the surrounding block. “The whole block except for the (Star of the Sea) Church was destroyed,” Johanson said. “The day care in the community hall basement had its windows pop out and explode.”
The hall sustained smoke, water, and heat damage, according to Jim McKinlay, a member of the facility and infrastructure council of Star of the Sea Parish. “There are three inches of water all over the hall,” he said. “There was no damage to the church.”
A restoration crew is already in the process of removing water and cleaning the air, with the hall closed indefinitely.
The parish is working to locate alternative areas for the hall’s events. The United Church in White Rock volunteered to host as many event groups as possible, said McKinlay. “We are trying to get the top floor operational as soon as possible to allow groups, like the day care, to begin again.”
As a result of the flames, more than 100 people have lost their homes. However, kindness erupted from the tragic situation. “When we looked around (during the fire), we saw the beauty of people helping each other on the street,” said Johanson. “Despite the shock of what was going on, it seems helping each other is ingrained in our culture here.”
