By Pam Wright
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
The collective community response to the devastating fire at 99 McNaughton Ave. in August was recently celebrated at Chatham-Kent council.
A host of local organizations, churches and municipal staff received certificates of recognition for going above and beyond to help their fellow citizens in their hour of need.
All 126 residents in the social housing complex had to be evacuated because of the blaze.
C-K health and human services general manager Jodi Guilmette said the residents “literally left their homes with the clothes on their back.
“They left behind their clothing, their medication, their personal effects, not knowing when they would be allowed to return to their home,” she said. “Many community members and organizations came together to support the residents of 99 McNaughton during this very difficult time.”
Guilmette said she want to recognize and thank those who provided assistance, noting there were “too many to name.”
Among those were Pine Court Apartments, Betty Brite Drycleaners and Laundromat, Emmanuel Baptist Church, Family Service Kent, Free Help CK, Handy Bros. Home Comfort, Chatham Lions Club, Loads of Love, Neighbourlink, Postma Heating and Cooling, Skyline Living, Trinity United Church, Pet and Wildlife Rescue (PAWR), Canadian Red Cross Society, Parthenon Lodge, Value Village, Nest Realty, Kiwanis Club of Chatham-Kent, Winmar Property Restoration Specialists and Medavie EMS.
A Chatham-Kent Fire and Rescue team led by Capt. Mark Spicer was acknowledged for extinguishing the fire. It includes firefighters P.J. Laprise, Mike Gifford, Brad Sinasac, Allison Griffis and Owen Bateman.
Arson has been cited as the cause of the blaze and a woman is facing charges. The matter is still before the courts.
