In times of tragedy, it is said to look for the heroes.
If the people affected by the 100 Little Ave. fire are looking, it’s doubtful they’ll have to look far.
Monday night’s destructive blaze has left approximately 60 people homeless and wondering what will become of them in the long and short term.
While Monday night was a night of running out of their homes to save their lives, standing in the streets with only the clothes on their backs and waiting to be checked out before heading to the nearby Holiday Inn that would be their home for the foreseeable future, the residents of the Allandale public housing complex await word on their fate and what will become of them.
Ward 8 Coun. Arif Khan arrived on the scene shortly before 10 p.m. and stayed until approximately 2:30 a.m. before being at an early morning meeting with the county.
Khan couldn’t credit the first-responders enough who were on the scene earlier and longer as well as those from homes nearby who came to not just watch, but help.
“Nowadays, first-responders are in the limelight more than ever around the world as tragedy seems to be striking everywhere, but I’m telling you we are very lucky here in Barrie with ours,” said Khan. “These folks were battling a very bad fire; one that has from what I’m hearing permanently damaged that structure.
“Those first-responders were selflessly working hard to put that fire out and as I looked around I noticed people from neighbouring complexes and houses coming over with blankets, water and just to keep the displaced company,” he added. “The adrenaline keeps you busy, but when you think back on the grace that you saw, it hits home for you.”
The ball of fire that caused the damage was visible from different parts of the city and Khan says he received countless texts and messages about it as he was on his way to the scene.
Any fire is reported to council through email, but Khan knew this one was going to be catastrophic from the amounts of calls he was getting from friends and residents in his ward.
“There is a process that is and was followed in that any scene that the fire department goes to we as a council are informed,” said Khan. “But I’m not going to lie; this one had me very concerned as I drove there as for one, we could see it from far away and for two my phone wouldn’t stop dinging.
“When I got there, I got the information I needed and then did the best thing I could do and that was get out of the way of those who know what they’re doing,” he added.
"I spoke with tenants and listened; not giving advice or talking at all because what the hell am I going to tell them? What am I going to tell someone who is likely standing with all they now own watching tragedy effect them so deeply? I listened, I took in what was being said as being needed and now we’re acting.
"We will be providing as many details over the next few hours and days on what will be the process for donation and helping. That way the help gets to where it’s needed best.
"The City of Barrie website and social media will do all it can to provide the necessary help. I know also that Barrie Housing is doing an amazing job in assisting and may be a place where residents can get information as well,” Khan added. "Believe me when I say that all the experts who know what is needed are the ones in charge, these are not council decisions or the call of the councillors; the people that are pros in these situations are letting us know what’s needed and we will act.”
Listening wasn’t all Khan was doing as he also made a call to order 20 pizzas for the residents waiting at the Allandale Recreation Centre. Dave Chalut knew 20 wouldn’t be enough and brought 30 from one of the Dominos Pizza stores he is the operations director for and made sure there were enough for the first-responders.
Khan noted that Chalut refused payment for the pizzas.
The 36-year-old pizza manager said it was what was needed.
“I just finished watching the Leafs game and Arif called,” said Chalut. “We had the pizzas there in about 45 minutes from the call, but that’s just what we should be doing.
"A lot of the residents there are customers for us, I’ve personally delivered to that building and I feel it’s our local responsibility to act when it’s needed. Everyone on that scene needed help; bringing pizza was the absolute least we could do.”
Many in the city are trying to help by organizing fundraisers and donation drop-offs.
Mayor Jeff Lehman posted the following at 1:05 p.m., Tuesday:
“Many Barrie residents have expressed an interested to help the victims affected by this fire. Monetary donations to the GoFundMe campaign which was set up this morning are the best way you can help.
Item donations (new or gently used) will be collected in the Rotunda of City Hall (70 Collier St.) until Friday, April 27 at 4:30 p.m. Some immediate needs are:
• Blankets and sheets (twin, double, queen)
• Clothing (infant, toddler and school age)
• Diapers and pull-ups/ baby wipes
• Dog and cat food, litter and supplies
• Personal hygiene items (shampoo, soap, razors, deodorant etc.)
The City will work with the Barrie Housing Corporation to distribute the items to the affected residents.”
KOOL FM is also helping out by collecting items tonight. They will be on location from 4-8 p.m. at the Zehrs at Cundles and Duckworth as well as the Yonge-Big Bay Point store. They will be collecting donations and taking them to city hall for those who can't make it downtown.
