Eleven people managed to safely escape a burning North End home Saturday afternoon.
"We were sleeping, we got woken up. All we saw were smoke and flames coming through the door and we just jumped out the window instantly. Just from the smoke in the room our faces were black.we wiped them off inside. They were black, it burns now," said Breena Smith.
Her and her boyfriend were sleeping on the second floor of the Flora Avenue home. Jumping was their only way out.
They owe everything to Chad’s dad, Jonathan. He risked his life to save them.
"I was in the kitchen area and I could smell smoke and then I ran up the stairs. There was already a huge flame and I ran right through the flame," Jonathan Williams said.
He woke them up, then ran back through the fire to get his eight other children out safely. One child wasn’t home at the time.
"I made sure that they got out of there. I would not leave without everybody. Even if I was left in there it really didn’t matter, as long as my kids are out," he said.
This is the latest tragedy for the family. The children, aged 4 to 20 years old, have lost both their mother and grandfather in the past two years.
Even though they don’t know where they are staying, they are happy they’ll be together.
"They are all healthy and okay. A house can be replaced," said Williams.
Clothing donations can be made at Winnipeg Inner City Mission at 415 Logan Avenue. You can also call 942-8682 ext 222.
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