Princeton area family ignores evacuation order, loses business to fire

A Princeton-area family defied an evacuation order to stay on their property to try and save their buildings and tend to their animals.

George and Irena Laska live on Summers Creek Road, where they farm and operate a flooring business.

They’ve lived on the property for 32 years.

In a phone interview with Global News, George Laska said when they were told to leave, he hid in the bush until the firefighters left and came back to his home.

His wife, son, and daughter were smuggled back in three days later.

“If I think there is something I can do, I will stay and do it, and if I think it’s time to run, I will run, but I won’t let anybody make that decision for me,” Laska said.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "If I think there is something I can do, I will stay and do it, and if I think it's time to run, I will run, but I won't let anybody make that decision for me," Laska said.

The Laska’s kept a bucket brigade and sprinklers going.

When the fire reached his property, Laska said firefighters were there.

While they couldn’t save his flooring shop and showroom, they did manage to keep the fire from spreading to his home.

“If he hadn’t stayed, they would have lost everything, he was fighting for everything they believe in and everything they built in the past 30 years,” said his daughter Marie Laska.

While George Laska was able to save about 75 per cent of his tools, his loss is still great.

The business was not insured.

When asked what his plans are now, Laska said:  “Just what I did before.  I started from nothing.  I guess I will have to do the same.”

A Go Fund Me page has been set up for the family to raise funds to rebuild.

“We know there is so many people who have lost possessions and buildings, we’re just so thankful for everyone who has supported us so far,” Marie said.

The Laska’s aren’t the only ones defying orders to leave, prompting a word of warning from fire officials.

“Residents have to remember that if they put themselves at risk, sometimes they put our crews at risk. They have to go in and help them in a situation so we really ask people if there is an evacuation order or alert in place, please abide by them,” said fire information officer Marg Drysdale.

with files from Shelby Thom