Arsonist destroys Genelle home, donations requested for the now-homeless family
A Genelle family has lost everything they own after an arsonist burned their home to the ground in the wee hours of Thursday morning, according to Trail RCMP Sgt. Mike Wicentowich. No one was injured in the blaze.
“The home, in the 500 block of 16 Avenue, in Whispering Pines Trailer Park, was completely destroyed,” Wicentowich said, adding the homeowners provided information leading to the arrest of a 29-year-old Castlegar man Thursday afternoon, who is now in police custody.
His name cannot be released until official charges are sworn, and his first court appearance was not yet scheduled at the time of this publication.
Neighbour Kailey Taks said she was woken by pounding on her door.
“I called 9-1-1 at 2:22 a.m.,” Taks said. “It was really scary.”
The couple who lived in the trailer were left with nothing but the clothes on their backs – not even shoes – and their home did not have fire insurance.
Taks is asking locals to help out in any way they can, and will be accepting donations at her home nearby. She suggested items such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, shampoo, bodywash, deodorant, woman’s shoes (size 7), men’s shoes (size 9), men’s clothing (size med – large), ladies clothing (size medium), cellphone, blankets, pillows, socks, underwear, luggage in which to store the donations, and any other necessities donors think of.
For the drop-off address, please use Facebook to private message either Taks, Kyra Hoggan or Still YOUR Source FB page.
Taks is also in the process of creating a Go Fund Me page for the couple, which the Source will publish as soon as it is available.
Comments