WATCH: Many of the victims of a Coquitlam fire are now rebuilding their lives, but they still need help from the public. Nadia Stewart reports.
A month after a massive fire in a Coquitlam apartment complex displaced over 100 people, those affected are still working to get their lives back to normal.
“I still consider myself lucky, there’s other families that lost a whole lot more than I did,” says Gerry Derksen, a quadriplegic who lost his customized condo in the February 16 fire.
“I’ve seen it on the news before, and I thought I understood some of it, but until you go through you really don’t have a clue.”
In total, 72 units were affected by the fire, and it will still be some time before people can return to their homes. Reverend Dave Anderson, who has been involved in the recovery effort since the beginning, says the community has provided plenty of clothes and food for displaced residents. Today, there’s still a room full of clothing, and what isn’t taken will eventually be given to charities across the lower mainland.
He encourages people who still want to help to donate money.
“Right after the fire, they really needed things like clothing,” he said. “Now they’re starting to move in places of their own.”
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