Words cannot describe the devastation of the fire that consumed Coles Marine Diesel and the Wynken Blynken Nod (WBN) Backpackers B&B last Friday, June 4.

The burned rubble and the frames are what is left of two historic heritage buildings along the Gibsons waterfront that were consumed by the flames in mere minutes. All the hard work that had gone into re-storing the WBN by owner Suzanne Senger was lost in an unthinkable tragedy. Our hearts go out to Senger, her son Raven and the four other tenants who lost virtually everything in the disaster.

When we visited Senger on Sunday, as she and Raven, along with friends were sifting through the rubble, salvaging what they could, we were reminded of how much we love this community and how this community pulls together when someone is in need. People had come by with donations of food and drink, and local musicians organized an impromptu fundraiser on Saturday afternoon raising in excess of $2,600 in monetary and clothing donations. A neighbour offered Senger a place to stay for the month rent free, others baked cookies while another dropped off $300 in a cookie jar, giving the money to Raven so he could go buy some clothes for school the next day. We’ve also received calls and emails from other people in the community this week who want to open up their hearts and offer what they can to help.

On Sunday, Senger and her friends were re-planting their vegetable garden, while saying they would be OK thanks to the overwhelming support of the community. Out of the ashes a garden will grow, and out of those ashes, we’ve witnessed how a community grows too. How a community comes together in times of tragedy, how those in need can lean on each other for support. It’s tremendous really.

And we would be remiss not to offer our thanks and praise to the Gibsons and Roberts Creek volunteer fire department’s who put their lives on the line trying to save the two buildings, but better still, they saved the fire from getting any larger and consuming more.

No lives were lost and no one was hurt and that’s due in no small part to the efforts of the firefighters. The men and women who volunteer with our fire departments are true heros. They deserve our respect, thanks and admiration for a job well done.