Salvation Army cared for displaced residents
DISPLACED residents of the Beaucette Marina fire were welcomed with open arms by the Salvation Army last night.
A fire around the La Lande area in the Vale displaced several families from their homes, many still in shock and worried about their neighbours and pets.
One resident, Graham Chester, said he lived next door to the packing shed that had gone up in flames.
‘It happened around 5.30pm,’ he said.
‘We’d just got in from work and were about to have tea when it started and we got a knock on the door to say that, as a precaution, we had to leave because the packing shed was on fire.
‘It was pretty big with the flames going through the roof, but contained because of its solid walls and then there were some pops that went off and the flames increased as they went off.
‘Once the fire service got there though they got it under control reasonably quickly.’
He said although many of the residents in the area were asked to leave their homes, only three of them got on the bus put on by CT Plus to help move residents to safety in the Salvation Army base at L’Islet.
‘Some of our neighbours went to friends and family close by or left in their cars,’ he said.
‘We would have got in our car too but it wasn’t so easy.
‘It’s okay though, we’ve been looked after pretty well by the emergency services and the Salvation Army.
‘It’ll be good to get back though.’
At the drop of a hat, L’Islet Salvation Army along Route de Picquerel opened its doors to help those who needed somewhere to stay while the fire was put out and the area made safe for them to return.
This included Georgia Petralia, who happened to come to the base to ask if they needed help at Christmas.
‘I live next door,’ she said.
‘It was by coincidence that they needed me right now. I think it’s a good thing to do, so I was happy to help make coffee and be there.’
Emergency rest centre manager Sue Le Poidevin said they were always on hand to help in situations such as this one.
‘We’re happy to be here for anyone who needs us,’ she said.
‘I saw pictures of the flames, it’s quite shocking really. We’re grateful that people were able to be evacuated quickly and the flames put out safely.
‘Many are in shock and have pets that they are worried about, which is understandable. If it happened so close to mine I would react the same way.
‘I just hope everyone is okay and that we can be there when they need us most.’
Residents were able to return to their homes at around 7.50pm.
