An Orillia family is mourning the loss of two pets following a Laclie Street North basement fire.
A GoFundMe has been set up to help get Christina Sparling, her husband, and four children back on their feet after they "lost everything" when their Laclie Street home was engulfed in flames last Thursday evening.
"We are currently staying at a hotel, and any donations will be used to help secure housing and replace what was lost in the fire," she said on the fundraising site.
Orillia Deputy Fire Chief Chris Ferry says the electrical fire was caused by a chest freezer that was plugged into an extension cord.
"The extension cord was covered with other items," he said. "When that happens, the heat isn't allowed to dissipate out of the extension cord and the heat builds up and catches on fire."
Ferry says anything that draws a lot of power should be plugged directly into a wall outlet that's meant to supply large amounts of electricity.
"Electrical cords are only meant for temporary use and not extended use or for powering items that draw a lot of electricity," he said.
There are $50,000 in damages to the single-family home located between Murray Street and Frontier Avenue, but Ferry believes it will be live-able again.
"On the first floor there was smoke and water damage," he said. "They will have to have that cleaned up. There is also fire damage in the basement that would have to be repaired."
Ferry says the basement fire was difficult to extinguish.
"Basement fires are always difficult," he said. "There is generally only one way into the basement, down the stairs, and the smoke and flames are coming up."
Firefighters on the scene had to fight their way down to put the fire out, Ferry says.
"The first crew in kept the fire from spreading to the first floor," he said. "The second crew arrived and opened the door to the basement from the walkout and extinguished the fire that way."
Ferry says the owner of the home suffered smoke inhalation after trying to extinguish the fire by themselves.
"We don't recommend this," he said. "Get out of your residence, call 911, and wait outside for the fire department."
While firefighters were able to rescue two rabbits in the fire, two cats were tragically lost.
"We weren't able to locate them right away," Ferry said. "We found them after they were deceased."
Firefighters were unsuccessful in trying to resuscitate one of the cats.
Ferry says the residents of the home had working smoke alarms on the main level and in the basement.
"When things like this happen, it's important to drive home the importance of having working smoke alarms on every level of a home," he said. "That includes the basement."
