Re: “All through the Night” Photo essay of Sturgeon County house fire July 28, 2012.

I am the owner of the house on Estate Way East, Sturgeon County, which burned to the ground Saturday/Sunday, July 28/29, 2012.

While it was hard to come around the corner to see our house totally consumed by flames, the support and concern from the community has been very appreciated and has helped my family cope with the loss. Although luckily no one was home at the time of the blaze, we did lose our cherished family pets, which is always a difficult loss to deal with.

There are many people we would like to thank from the person who called 911 to the efforts of the three rural volunteer fire departments who responded and managed to keep the fire contained. It was a long and tiresome night through which they diligently worked to minimize the spread of the blaze to the neighbouring homes.

I would also like to thank all the neighbours who stopped by and along with their condolences, offered us food and drink, places to rest, and items to help us get back on our feet. My family is deeply touched and ever so grateful for this wonderful outpouring of care and concern.

To all of our friends and co-workers, whose compassion and understanding have helped us to keep on going: You have been so helpful in these days of transition, trying to get through all the obstacles we are faced with in establishing a temporary home to get our lives back on track.

And last but not least, our family members have been the cornerstone to our strength and ability to carry on and look to the future to get back on our feet and start the long process of rebuilding our home.

Paul Tipping and family, Sturgeon County

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