(Nigel Maxwell/paNOW Staff)

By Ronald Quaroni

Townhouse Fire

P.A. mother alerts neighbours after adjoined townhouse fire

Oct 8, 2019 | 1:09 PM

There were some tense moments for a P.A. family after a fire at a four-plex in the 200 block of 27^th Street East yesterday.

Jessica Rabbitskin and her boyfriend awoke early Monday morning to the sound of beeping. Thinking it was her baby’s tube-feed machine Rabbitskin and her boyfriend got up to investigate. It was then her boyfriend made an alarming discovery when he smelled smoke and looked out the back door.

“There were flames outside on our deck and on the divider, separating us and the neighbours. It was engulfed in flames,” Rabbitskin told paNOW. “We just went into panic mode.”

She and her boyfriend quickly went to work gathering her two boys, two girls and the family dog. After dialing 9-1-1 and gathering outside Rabbitskin noticed her neighbours’ lights weren’t on.

Rabbitskin ran to the door and tried to wake the family.

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“I was just ringing away, ringing away. I wasn’t getting a response, so I started to pound on the door,” she recounts.

Rabbitskin, in the nick of time, woke the family which included three young kids a dad and a pregnant mother.

Following the arrival of the Prince Albert Fire Department, Rabbitskin said lots of thoughts were going through her head.

“In those moments, you think everything is taken forever,” she said.

She explained they haven’t figured out how much was lost or damaged in the blaze.

“I don’t know yet, but we’re getting a lot of support already,” she said. “I’d just like to thank the community for everything. They’ve come together in coming to support us with prayers and monetarily. You know $20 goes a long way, when you don’t have much.”

One of the groups that typically helps immediately after a call like this is the Canadian Red Cross.

Prince Albert’s Gwen Pearce, coordinator of emergency management, explained they usually try and provide aid to families for the first 72 hours, immediately after a fire.

“This gives a person who has insurance a day or two to reach out to their insurance company. If they’re on assistance, they can get in touch with their worker. For some people after that, it’s either their band or family and friends [that will help].”

Deputy Chief Alex Paul with the Prince Albert Fire Department said most of the damage was to the building’s rear exterior and roof.

“There is significant smoke and water damage to the interior of the building at this time,” Paul said.

He said those finding themselves in a similar situation should take similar steps.

“Obviously getting us there is of utmost importance, so the first thing we’d want you to do is phone 9-1-1 and report the fire. Then, if it’s safe to do so, go to your neighbours’ house, knock on the door, try and alert them. In no case would we ask anyone to go into a house to try and retrieve someone,” Paul said.

Various fundraisers and GoFundMe pages have been set up to help the families affected by the fire.

Members of the Prince Albert Fire Department say the incident is under investigation.

—With files from Nigel Maxwell

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Ron.quaroni@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @RonaldQuaroni