A Smiths Falls woman says being awake in the middle of the night may have saved her life after a house fire destroyed the apartment above hers and left her without a home.
Brenda Edwards was in her downstairs apartment on McEwan Street around 3 a.m. Tuesday, when she heard yelling from upstairs.
At first, she thought the noise was an argument. Moments later, she opened her bathroom door and discovered the occupants had already fled and flames were visible outside.
Edwards escaped safely, but she said she lost nearly all of her belongings.
The fire started in the upstairs apartment, while her unit suffered extensive smoke and water damage. Everyone inside the building got out safely, but a pair of family pets residing in the upstairs apartment died in the blaze.
A GoFundMe for the upstairs residents indicated the cause of the fire was electrical, and the apartment was home to a mother of two. Lanarkleedstoday.ca has reached out for comment.
The loss has been difficult for Edwards because she lives on ODSP and faces several health challenges, including mobility issues. Aside from a new place to live, she said there’s one thing she needs the most.
Edwards is staying with family while she searches for accessible housing. A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to help cover immediate expenses after the fire.
Despite the hardship, Edwards said she is grateful for the support she has received from family, friends and members of the community.
Story by Grant Deme
