Heather Wright/The Independent

A family of six is searching has lost everying after a house fire in Oil Springs.

The South Enniskillen/Oil Springs fire department was called to James Street in the village Sunday around 7 pm after residents noticed smoke.

Chief Mike Cumming said the family was not home at the time and no one was injured. However the house is a total loss, estimating around $500,000.

Cumming says the fire started in the furnace area, although the exact cause is not known. The fire burned all the way into the attic. “The floor joists were burning so we couldn’t go in,” he said.

The 18 Oil Springs firefighters and members of the Dawn-Euphemia department were on scene until 3:30 Sunday morning. Cumming said an excavator was brought in to knock down the stubborn fire.

Neighbours tracked down the owners, Cornelius and Agatha Friesen, and they arrived at the scene to watch firefighters work to control the blaze. The couple stayed with neighbours overnight.

The Friesens and their four children, ages three to 10, are part of the John Knox Christian School community. Principal Marnie Lisson says friends of the couple are coordinating help and donations through the online site GiveSendGo with the Friesen Hope Fund. Lisson says their immediate needs aren’t known yet until they have a place to live.

“This is a devastating loss to both them and their four children… We desire to be the hands and feet of Jesus to this family in their time of need,” the organizers write online adding any money raised on this platform will be used towards rental costs, clothing and feeding their family, Christian education, and building and furnishing a new home.

People in Oil Springs reached out to the United Church offering items for the family as well. Lisson says it is wonderful to see the community, family and friends rally around the family. “There is so much thankfulness how beyond the school and beyond Oil Springs, people are reaching out to help,” says Lisson.

The online Friesen Hope Fund can be found here:

https://www.givesendgo.com/cafriesenfamily