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The aftermath of the April 29 fire is seen. (Photo Courtesy Bob Schneider)
Accepting cash donations, bottle drive Saturday

Redcliff family that lost home in fire still in shock, says friend

May 2, 2022 | 4:41 PM

REDCLIFF, AB – The community is rallying around a Redcliff family that is without a home following a house fire last week.

The fire broke out just after noon on Friday at the home of Richard and Michelle Pinder. Their daughter Gillian and her dog Penny were also staying in the home.

There were no injuries sustained, but the family lost almost everything.

Next door neighbour and family friend Ryan French told CHAT News on Monday the family is still shaken up but doing good.

“The shock factor is still there as they were home when it did come out and they kind of got outside and all of a sudden their house was fully involved,” he said.

The Pinders are staying with friends in the town and starting to try to rebuild their lives. There are at least three ways you can help.

French says e-transfer donations are best right now. The address is rmpinder@telus.net.

“It’s hard to store extra items, extra clothing and all that kind of stuff when you don’t have the means to do so,” he said. “And I think that’s kind of where we’re just kind of going to to help them start to rebuild what they need. The monetary goes toward basic toiletries and clothing and stuff like that for food and whatnot.”

All donations through the e-transfer will go to the family, French says, adding that’s not always the case with crowdfunding sites, which can also take a long time to deliver the funds.

There is also a bottle drive taking place at the town’s bottle depot on Saturday starting at 9 a.m. and a cash donation jug is being filled at Trukker’s Family Restaurant.

French said the Redcliff and Box Springs fire departments deserve credit for their efforts to quickly extinguish the blaze.

Investigators have not released any information on the cause of the fire.