Town of Renfrew rallies around single-father and kids after fire on Graham Street

Chris Stokes said he will be forever grateful to the people of Renfrew who have raised over $19,000 to help him purchase everyday items and a few Christmas presents for his two sons after a fire tore through his Graham Street house.

Stokes left for work at 4:30 a.m. last Wednesday, December 1, and sometime within 30 minutes after his departure, a fire started underneath his refrigerator and quickly spread.

When he left home, his sons, Cameron, 14, and Dylan, 12, were still in bed. They woke up to the smell and sound of what they thought was the woodstove, but they realized their dad had not started the woodstove yet this year.

The boys ran for the door, Cameron grabbed the dog leash for their beloved Bella and did not stop to put on shoes or boots as they got out to the front yard as smoke billowed through all parts of the house.

A neighbour who first saw the smoke and called 911 went outside to survey the damage and saw the boys on the front lawn and took them into his home to warm up until their father arrived.

Stokes had already started his shift at work and was in the process of taking a break around 6 a.m. when he noticed his phone was full of messages and texts.

The first message he saw was “Daddy, house is on fire.”

“That was from my son. Cameron and I stood there for a second kind of stunned and shocked,” Stokes said. “Then I had a voicemail from my mom telling me my house was on fire. She was in tears telling me my house was on fire and I had no idea if my sons got out or what was going on. So I just ran as fast as I could to get to my car and get home for my sons.”

When he turned the corner on to Graham Street, all he saw were fire trucks and police vehicles and his first thought was the condition of his sons.

“It was a nightmare drive home and usually it flies by, but on Wednesday it was the longest drive of my life,” he said.

He was met by some members of the Renfrew Fire Department and OPP who informed him everyone was safe. His sons and dog had left the scene a few minutes earlier and his thoughts were all the same as he looked at the home he bought in 2006: “I am a single dad with two boys and now we have no home…what do I do next.”

As he walked through the smoke and water damaged interior of his home, Stokes was near tears.  

“I think it’s worse it is still standing,” he said sarcastically. “It is just me and the boys and bills add up so some things I kept putting off and getting home insurance was one of them. I went through the house and everything is lost and I have to begin replacing it. I had to start replacing simple things like clothes and shampoo. I am just fortunate to have such good friends and live in such a generous community.”

One of those friends is Phil Lambert who took him shopping for clothes a few hours after he had gone through what is left of his house.

“You never realize how important and fortunate you are if you have a few friends who come through for you when you really need them,” he said. “I didn’t want to go shopping after the day I had, but I realized it was not just me, but my sons needed clothes…and a lot more.”

Two of his good friends, Caleb Bennett and Mark Lavallee, knew their friend needed help but was too proud to ask so they set up a GoFundMe page with a goal of $10,000.

“I believe that $10,000, though only a drop in the bucket, will at least give them a head start on getting themselves re-established,” Bennett said. “All donations will immediately be put to use buying the most pressing necessities like clothes, winter wear, food, gas and then hopefully the first few months’ rent somewhere.”

By Thursday of this week the fund was at $19,175 and Bennett posted an update for all the donors.

“I wish you all could see how your generosity is affecting Chris,” he stated. “Your kindness is making all the difference.”

Stokes was bitterly disappointed the Christmas presents he purchased for his sons were destroyed.

“I really wanted to make this a special Christmas but instead we have no home, but right now they are safe and with their mom,” he said.

With the assistance of the Red Cross, he was able to stay in a local hotel for a week and he has made arrangements to stay with a friend in the short-term as he looks at his next steps.

 “The house is the biggest thing I have to deal with right away,” he said. “I already have a call into a company to come clean up the inside and then I need to decide whether to invest in the repairs to make it livable again or should it just be demolished and start over. I could always try to sell as is, but that is a decision that will have to be made very soon.”

Stokes is not angry about what has taken place and he is more reflective and grateful for the help he has received. He also provided some advice for others.

“This could happen to anyone in the blink of an eye,” he said. “Never take anything for granted and value your family and friends because when you need them, they will be there for you.”