The evening of Feb. 13 began like any other for one Linaria household, but would soon be changed forever when a small chimney fire took a turn for the worst.
That evening, a fire destroyed the house belonging to Lenard and Edna Jennings, who had lived there for over 30 years.
Edna was home with four of her five granddaughters, and was aware there was a small chimney fire in the wood stove in her sunroom, but she thought she had it under control.
Later, Edna saw smoke coming from the sunroom. When she went to check, everything looked fine.
She told her eldest granddaughter to go outside and check the roof.
“The 11-year-old came back in the house and said, ‘Grandma, the house is on fire,’” said Pam Grenier, the couple’s daughter and aunt to the five children.
When Edna went to see if the fire was containable, she realized the whole roof of the sunroom was on fire.
She was able to call emergency services, her husband and a neighbour before the flames cut off the power.
She managed to get the children outside and into the van before Lenard arrived. Two neighbours also showed up, and invited the family to come to their house where the children could be away from the devastation.
“The kids were hysterical at that point. The windows were popping out of the house,” Grenier said, “It wasn’t safe.”
Once the family was safely at the neighbour’s, Edna called her daughter and explained what was going on.
With the house over 30 kilometres from the nearest fire hall, it was engulfed in flames by the time fire fighters arrived. The fire was under control within the hour, but nothing salvageable remained.
Wanting to do anything to help, Grenier took in the family to live with her and her own three children.
“There was nothing I could do, so I told them immediately they needed to come to me,” she said.
Edna and Lenard have now found a place to stay in Westlock, but it’s only a short-term fix. Grenier said they are trying to figure out where to go from here, and how to make their acreage livable again.
Taking care of five young girls was often a day-to-day struggle for the Jennings, who wanted to give their grandchildren everything they needed.
Unfortunately, finances were an issue and they could not afford the house and fire insurance, leaving them with no coverage.
Family friend Carrie Suian helped set up a donation account at the Royal Bank in Westlock, and went around with a list of items the family needed, in the hopes the community could find some way to contribute.
“It was hard for them to do the list,” she said.
“You’re sitting there the day after your house just burned to the ground, and … when you’ve given to people your whole life, it’s a big thing to learn how to be on the receiving end instead.”
It didn’t take long for the community to respond. Thanks to the generosity of Barrhead, Westlock and surrounding areas, the family no longer needs items on the donations list.
However, financial donations and volunteers are still welcome as the Jennings try to rebuild their life. Grenier said they are still looking for help to move furniture and rebuild a home.
Financial donations can be forwarded to the Westlock Royal Bank.
Cheques should be made payable to Lenard and Edna Jennings. Anyone who has questions about helping can contact Pam at 780-674-5898.
