‘I just keep saying thank you’: Family impacted by fire caused by fireworks gets help from community

The family forced out of their home after fireworks sparked a house fire says they're receiving help from the community. CTV's Marek Tkach has more.

The family whose house was damaged in a fire caused by nearby fireworks last week is receiving help from the community.

Travis Kammerer says it’s been a “little overwhelming” after a GoFundMe page raised more than $12,000.

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Last week, three people were charged with arson in connection to the fire, started by fireworks during Diwali celebrations.

Kammerer and his family are now living in a rental until their house is repaired. Their car was also destroyed by the fire.

Edmonton Fire Rescue Services estimated the damage at 175,000.

“We got a full scope of how much work is going to be involved (to repair) the home and how much damage (there is) to the inside contents,” Kammerer said. “We got a bit of a scope of that yesterday and it’s quite a bit.”

Since the fire, Kammerer has received messages from strangers offering their help, including a place to stay, and their vehicles.

“One gentleman, I’m going to try to locate him, he donated $500 to my family. I don’t know what to say to that. I just keep saying thank you from the bottom of our hearts,” Kammerer said.

“I think it says a lot of people care about what happened and want things to change, and it matters to them because it could happen to anybody.”

Varinder Bhullar lives a few blocks away and says only a small portion of people who celebrate Diwali use fireworks.

“I was heartbroken to see how one person’s celebrations could become another person’s nightmare,” Bhullar said.

Wanting to help, he shared the GoFundMe page to spread the word.

“It was amazing, I’m really thankful to those family members and friends who answered my call,” he said.

Bhullar insists the community should help regardless of who is at fault.

“To be human, we should be there for each other and helping.”

Kammerer says it could be six months before his family is allowed to move back in.

With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Marek Tkach