Help family who lost everything in house fire

Dear Kemptville Community,

Early this morning, Tuesday, August 13th, around 4:30 AM, Jacob and his mother, Melinda, were awakened by the terrifying sounds of flames and thick smoke. Their home on Barnes and Oxford East tragically caught fire and has been completely destroyed.

In the midst of this chaos, Jake and Melinda managed to escape with just the clothes on their backs. While they were able to save two dogs, Paizley and Gypsy, we are heartbroken to share that our beloved 14-year-old cats, Harry and Larry, as well as 7-month-old puppy, Zew were not able to get to safety. Jacob's 3-year-old son lost his belongings in this devastating event but we are grateful he was not in the home at the time. This heartbreaking fire has affected two families in our community who need as much support as possible.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Firefighters, Victim Services, By-Law, Kemptville Animal Hospital, neighbors, and everyone who has offered their condolences. Jacob and Melinda will need support in the coming days as they begin to rebuild their lives and replace what has been lost. While material possessions can be replaced, we are thankful that everyone, including two neighbors and their pets upstairs, made it out safely.

Any assistance and support would be deeply appreciated by all. The strength and compassion in our Kemptville community is truly remarkable. Thank you for standing together during this difficult time.