TORONTO – It’s been one year since a massive fire ripped through a row of townhouses in Brampton, taking the life of 10-year-old Nicolas Gabriel. For his parents, the loss of their son will always leave a gaping hole in their family and their lives.
“It’s difficult with our family of five becoming four,” said Shane Gabriel, on the loss of his son.
His parents said memories of the fire have been haunting them leading up to the first anniversary of Nicolas’ death.
“We’re still finding it really rough, but with the community coming together, it has helped us cope a little bit,” said Nicolas’ mother Kelly Gabriel.
READ MORE: Community pulls together to help victims of Brampton townhouse fire
Nicolas was sleeping at a friend’s home, in the same complex where the family lives, on the night of the fire.
The family has chosen to stay living there, and said the support shown by neighbours and the community as a whole has been a huge source of strength.
“We want to remember his spunk, his silliness, always playful,” said Kelly.
The fire, on June 8, 2014, forced hundreds of people from their homes. Nicolas was the only fatality.
It later came to light that many of the units in the buildings, owned and managed by Wynn Properties, were not up to fire code.
An investigation found a lack of working smoke alarms in many of the units. Dozens of charges have been laid; that case will go before the courts in 2016.
“It was so overwhelming really, it was such a tragedy,” said Brampton Fire Chief Michael Clark. “For our firefighters it was very hard on them.”
The fire started in a single townhouse before quickly spreading through the roof and engulfing the entire building.
“The frustration that they felt, unable to get to him,” said Clark. “The firefighters are parents, a lot of them. To go there and see a young life lost was a terrible thing for them.”
The parents are disappointed to see the structure destroyed in the fire is being rebuilt.
“They’re rebuilding right over where my son passed away. I would have liked to have seen a garden or a park for the children,” said Kelly.
A vigil was held to mark the one year anniversary of the fire.
The Gabriels urge other families to have a fire plan in place in case of emergency, and to check batteries in smoke alarms.
Global News contacted Wynn Properties for comment but have not yet received a response.
With files from Lama Nicolas
Comments