EDMONTON – A family of nine has lost their home in a devastating fire that occurred late Monday afternoon, northwest of Edmonton.
No one was home at the time on the rural property near Onoway, which is a town 68 kilometres from Edmonton. The fire started at around 4:30 p.m.
Michael and Corina Ardron tell Global News they built the home years ago and lived there with their seven children, ages four to 28.
Corina was out Christmas shopping when she received a phone call from a neighbour, telling her that her house was on fire.
“Driving home, that bit of time, I could just see the plume in the sky and the whole time you’re just thinking ‘Maybe it’s just a little bit. Maybe they’ll save it and they’ll get it out,'” she said on Monday night.
The family was unharmed, however a pet bunny was killed.
WATCH: An Onoway area family is picking up the pieces after their home went up in flames last night. Erin Chalmers reports.
The Ardrons are temporarily staying with friends. They say the outpouring of support from the community has been overwhelming.
“It makes you realize that you’re surrounded by a community of friends and loved ones and a church group that are supportive and love you and it really drives deep,” said Michael.
The home is a total loss and vehicles on the property were also damaged. Fire crews continued to tend to hot spots on the property overnight.
Fire crews came from Parkland County, Stony Plain and Lac Ste. Anne to help battle the blaze.
Despite the loss they have suffered, the Ardron family is grateful to still have one another.
“Kids are all safe, everybody’s fine. It’s 30 years of a lot of stuff and every time you think about something that you might go get, it’s gone. But it’s okay,” Corina said.
A cause of the fire has not been released.
With files from Jennifer Ivanov, Global News
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