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Bryce Leitch and his son Quinton were playing video games in their south London home’s basement on Sunday night when the 9-year-old suddenly said he heard a “weird noise” coming from upstairs.
Not long after, Leitch started to hear it too.
“I’ve never heard that before in my life. You know crackling over the fire? It wasn’t like that. It was like huge pieces of wood snapping,” he said.
Leitch walked up the stairs and saw bright orange coming through the front window. Unsure of what it could be, he opened the front door to check the porch.
“The whole porch was engulfed in flames, like up to the ceiling – everywhere,” Leitch said. “I turned to run back to the basement because my boy was down there, and then the window exploded inside and the fire came in.”
Fire crews were on the scene within four minutes after being called to 575 Wilkins Street Sunday night. (London Fire )
Leitch started yelling upwards to his spouse and three other kids while running downstairs to get his son. Wearing only the pajamas on their backs, with no time to grab winter coats or shoes, the family of six rushed out the back door and into the snow.
“It was the iciest night. I’ve never seen ice quite like this, so every time I got out onto the back deck, I just slipped and fell as I was just trying to get the animals and people,” Leitch said, adding that the family managed to get their dog and guinea pig out of the house.
Standing on a small hill across the street, barefoot holding one kid under each of his arms, Leitch said all he could do was stare.
“You know that you have to do something, but you also know that you’re useless,” he said. “You just sit there, you stare at it and you just watch it.”
Two families displaced in fire
Emergency crews were called to the townhouse at 575 Wilkins St. around 10:40 p.m., and arrived within four minutes of the initial call, according to Platoon Chief Gary Mosburger.
There were no injuries, but people at two neighbouring units were displaced, he said. Firefighters also rescued and resuscitated the Leitch ’s family’s cat.
Damages for the fire at 575 Wilkins Street are estimated at approximately $600,000, said Platoon Chief Gary Mosburger. (Kendra Seguin/CBC News)
On Monday morning, the cause of the fire was deemed as undetermined, with damages estimated at approximately $600,000, Mosburger said.
After eight years living in their unit and 15 years living within the Wilkins Street complex, Leitch’s family is currently staying in Thorndale with his parents. Other than a set of car keys, two cell phones, and some debit cards, the family lost all of their belongings in the fire.
It’s been difficult for the four kids, their parents said. Teryn, 12, lost her volleyball equipment after recently making the team at school. Quinton lost his video games. Piper, 7, lost all of her Monster High dolls.
Meanwhile, 2-year-old Jack is just learning about fire.
“His grandfather uses a fireplace to heat his house and now Jack will just walk up and stare,” said Leitch’s partner Melissa Earle. “I’ve never seen him react to fire, but now he just stares and says ‘fire in there.'”
Neighbours, community rallying together
Immediately after the family was displaced, Earle said neighbours began giving them shoes, jackets and blankets to stay warm.
A friend also started a GoFundMe campaign to help support the family in replacing their belongings and paying for veterinary bills.
Melissa Earle and Bryce Leitch say neighbours have been generous since the night their home caught fire. (Kendra Seguin/CBC News)
“The support has been fantastic. I’d say we’re quite blessed given the circumstances,” said Earle, through tears.
As the family continues to figure out their next steps, Earle said they’re trying to provide the kids a sense of normalcy by keeping them in school and getting them back into sports. From there, she said they’ll make a plan to find a new home and start over.
The family is continuing to collect donations through the GoFundMe campaign and by email at 575wilkins.leitchfamily@gmail.com.