nD Terrace Review — Wednesday, August 13, 1986 Flames force homeowners to flee es : io za House at Lot 22 on John’s Road burns tothe .. ground “Something like this is hard to believe”’ TERRACE — With feel- ings of fear and confu- sion, Shirley Cote, along with her husband Ed- mond, watched their neighbor’s home burn to the ground while their own home was being threatened by the fiery blaze. by Daniele Berquist ‘I was sitting in the kitchen on Wednesday (Aug. 6) when all of a sudden it got really dark,’”’ reported Shirley Cote. ‘“*At first I thought it was a cloud moving in.’’ Cote said she finally realized “‘there’s a fire next door.”’ ‘I went into shock,’’ explained Cote. Some- thing like that is hard to believe. . Cote’s daughter Olive was home at the time and yelled, ‘“George’s house is on fire.’’ The daughter quickly called the fire department. We gave them the address, re- called Cote. Lot 22 John’s Road, that’s just outside the city limits. Jerzy Henry Ziemian- sky’s home was quickly being consumed by fire. Minutes later, some- body came knocking on Cote’s door. A man said. the flames were coming towards the Cote resi- dence. You've got to get out of here, the man said, Cote paused as she remembered the next scene. I can’t leave... I have my slippers on...I Neighbor’s home — threatened by the fiery blaze * need my shoes. . Cote stated that when she stepped outside the Thornhill Fire Depart- ment had arrived. There was about 15 firemen plus a couple of tankers and a van, The firemen were. very quick in knowing what to do, she commented. They concentrated on the burning house and the trees so that the blaze wouldn’t spread. The firemen were very well organized, Cote noted. They knew what they were doing. We were asked to take our furniture out of our home as a measure of precaution. There was lots of help, Cote said. About a dozen people joined together and in about 10 minutes, the Cote’s possessions were out of the dwelling and safe. By this time, Cote ‘noted that she could see the flames coming up towards the carport. I thought for sure our home would burn to the ground too, she said. A tree nearby went up in flames, ‘‘The whole thing was pretty scary.” It seemed like minutes and the burning house was gutted, Cote said. It was so final. Cote’s home was well insured, They are presently taking bids from contractors to get their home up again as the porch was damaged by fire. The Cote’s have taken a room for the present in a local motel. A new roof, ceilings, walls, carpeting, floor- ing, Carport are now re- quired repairs. We need a complete overhaul. It’s scary, said Cote. The Cote’s have not received an estimated damage price yet. ‘‘We feel it will be pretty cost- ly,”? said Edmond Cote, We really hope to be home soon. Their in- surance is covering the stay at the motel. The Cote’s experi- enced a fire in their home a few years ago. ‘‘The first time it hits hard. The second time it’s still a shock,” they related. ‘‘T’m sorry that Jerzy is dead, and that so- meone else had to die too. It’s all very tragic, It’s hard to believe, the Cote’s said. Jerzy Ziemiansky died in a head-on collision on Kalum Lake Drive short- ly after his home was consumed in flames. Also killed in the acci- dent was Derek William Oswell of Quesnel, B.C., age 30. Terrace police are presently investigating both the fire and the col- lision.