Fire claims Hollingsheads’ home
by Charles Tweed
The fire that took Will and Holly Hollingshead’s home came fast, leaving nothing but a trail of devastation in its path.
“There were a couple of neighbors who went by around 9 p.m. and we got home at 9:45 and there was nothing left of the second storey,” said Holly Hollingshead.
“All that was left was the stud walls of the main level. All of the furniture and stuff from the first and second level was burning on the main floor. It was like looking at an X-ray, you could see right through into everything.”
The day, Sept 10, started out like any other ordinary day in the Hollingshead home.
“My kids went to my mom’s during the day because I was painting the cedar siding of our house,” said Hollingshead. “I went over for supper at my mom’s and then we stopped at the house to grab some hoodies to go to the Smurf movie.
“After the movie we came home and I could see as we got closer to home that there was a fire in the distance. As we came to the intersection north of us, I could tell our house was on fire.”
“When we pulled into the yard there was another couple who was already there that phoned the fire department about 10 or 15 minutes before we got there. Then we waited for the fire department to come—me, my mom and the kids, my husband (Will) was working—and by the time they got there, there wasn’t a whole lot to put out.
“It was a two storey house and basically everything had fallen into the basement and was burning out of the basement by the time the fire department got there. They put out the fire but it was too late.”
As she watched the fire through the window of her mother’s vehicle, all Hollingshead could think about were all of the mementos that held such fond memories being consumed by the blaze.
“My oldest daughter and I sat in my mom’s vehicle and watched it burn and it was pretty heartbreaking to watch everything you have go up in flames,” said Hollingshead, her voice cracking as she tried to fight back tears. “My daughter was thinking about all of her special things and I was doing the same: my wedding gown, wedding rings, all of my babies’ first things, scrapbooks, all of those sort of things. My kids’ special blankets, toys, dolls and quilts that their grandmother made—and knowing all those things are burning and there is nothing we could do.”
She said it was difficult to talk about but “grateful” that no one was in the home when the fire happened.
“It was very heartbreaking but at the same time I was thankful we weren’t at home,” said Hollingshead. “It was a two-story house and all of the bedrooms were upstairs, so had we been home my kids would have been in their beds sleeping and I don’t know whether we would’ve gotten out.
“If we were home we would have been upstairs and it’s a long ways down. I had been scraping and pressure washing and painting for four days, so there was scaffolding in front of the house, and I had it freshly in my mind just how high up it was and knew how much higher it still was. I’m so thankful we weren’t in (the house).
“It puts things into perspective and like my husband said, “At least we have each other and it’s just stuff.”
“They don’t know what caused the fire because it went up too fast and there was nothing left. We’ll never know why it went up but it went up really fast.”
Hollingshead was also thankful there wasn’t any wind that night.
“It was so scary,” said Hollingshead. “We have lots of big beautiful trees around our place so thankfully there wasn’t a breeze because we could have lost the whole farm. If if had gotten into the trees it would have gotten into our barns and corrals.
“We didn’t have any animals in or around the barns, so they were all safe too, which was a blessing.”
Fortunately the family has a place to stay while they rebuild their home.
“We’re staying at my mom’s and going from there,” said Hollingshead. “So luckily we have somewhere to go.”
Hollingshead also said she was blown away with the way the community has galvanized to help her family through the crisis.
“The community has been so awesome,” she said. “I cannot believe how generous and thoughtful and how everyone just wants to help and do so much for us. It is amazing how much they do for you and how much they are willing to do. Everybody wants to help the kids in some way, whether it’s buying them clothes or bringing them toy, bringing dressers over.
“A neighbor put some more water on the fire for me the other day because it was still burning and everybody has been phoning saying, “What can I do? Let me know what I can do to help? The community has just been so amazing and supportive and helpful.”
The community resolve and support will extend further as friends and neighbors have set up an account at Conexus Credit Union in Moosomin.
Anyone can contribute by dropping in to the credit union or mailing a donation to “Hollingshead Donations” c/o Conexus Credit Union, Box 480, Moosomin SK S0G 3N0
Neighbors in the Spring Creek district are also planning to hold a fundraising event. The plans are in the early stages at this point, but the evening will include a live pie auction, and people will be asked to bring non-perishable food items to restock the Hollingsheads’ cupboards.
Anyone interested in helping organize the fundraiser can contact Tammy Beckett at 435-2066 or 435-9687.
