Norman Wells fire family: stranger saved our lives
A resident who lost everything in a Norman Wells house fire wants to thank the man who saved her life.
Louisa Yukon was sound asleep on Sunday morning when her house filled with smoke.
She says if it wasn’t for Steve Scott, she and her family might not have made it out of the burning house.
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“If he didn’t show up, we most likely would have perished,” Yukon wrote to Cabin Radio.
“By the time he woke us up, the house was already covered in smoke. We had no time to grab anything.”
Calling it a “get up and get out” situation, Yukon, her mother Evelyn, and a third occupant had no time to take any of their belongings. They lost everything in the house fire.
The Town of Norman Wells said by the time firefighters arrived, the house was already evacuated. RCMP reported no-one was injured.
“[Scott] deserves a medal of bravery for what he has done for us, putting himself in danger to save us and make sure we got out safely,” Yukon said.
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She added she is grateful for the outpouring of love and support she has already received from community members.
“It really means a lot to my mom and myself,” she said. “It’s kind-of overwhelming and heartwarming, because in a small town [following] tragedies like this, everyone does what they can to help – and every little bit helps.”
A GoFundMe has been set up for the family so they can restock essentials like food, clothes, and – eventually – furniture when they find a new place to live.
Norman Wells RCMP said they received a call for service shortly before 7:30am and, upon arriving at the fire, helped the local fire department and bystanders to evacuate other houses in the area.
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Firefighters were unable to save the house, but were able to prevent it from spreading to nearby buildings.
The house’s fuel tank and a vehicle outside were also saved, the Town said in a statement.
“The fire was completely out and fire crews had left the scene within eight hours of the initial fire call,” the statement read.
An investigation is ongoing, lead by Norman Wells RCMP with assistance from the NWT Fire Marshal.
Police are asking anyone with information on the fire to call the Norman Wells detachment at 587-1111, or contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.