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The LaRose family is currently living in a two-bedroom Yurt at Barefoot Beach Resort in Penticton after losing everything in a house fire.
Sara LaRose told KelownaNow that on Friday evening the family lit their wood stove for the first time this year. It was okay for about an hour, but when she stepped outside she noticed some flames coming from outside the chimney.
LaRose and her husband were able to put the fire out and thought they would be fine for the night. The fireplace wasn’t hot to the touch when they went to bed.
"I was nervous about sleeping. We all slept in the same room,” LaRose said.
“We slept in our clothes with my car keys in my pocket and my phone in the other pocket. Every 20 minutes or so, I kept going outside to check because I could still smell smoke in the house."
After falling asleep for about 30 minutes, LaRose woke up to smoke detectors going off and visible flames inside the home.
The parents got their five children outside of the house and called 911 immediately. The dispatcher told LaRose that their home, which is five minutes behind Twin Lake Golf Course in Kaleden, B.C., is not inside a fire district.
That meant there wouldn’t be any fire trucks coming to help out the LaRose family and they had to watch their house - which they were in the process of buying - burn to the ground.
LaRose’s husband was able to save a few valuables, paintings, passports and several pieces of clothing.
A GoFundMe campaign was launched after word got out that the LaRose family lost everything. In less than 48 hours, more than $6,000 was raised for the family. Barefoot Beach Resort reached out to the family and offered them the yurt until Oct. 15. The home inspector, which they were planned to meet for an inspection on Wednesday reached out and said he would be donating new beds for the children once they are settled.
"There's been an outpouring of support outside of the GoFundMe account as well. Local businesses, friends, family and strangers. Everyone is trying to help in any way they can, which is an incredible feeling,” LaRose said.
The money from the GoFundMe will go towards finding the family a new home. LaRose said finding a new apartment has been weighing heavy on her mind, especially with the cost of rental housing in the Okanagan.
Even with losing everything, LaRose said that she’s just happy that everyone made it out okay.
"It's been a rollercoaster emotionally. At the end of the day, stuff is just stuff. It's still stressful and emotional, but again, without the support that we're having now, it would be a lot worse."
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