A community effort to restore a burned home in Owen Sound saw a number of volunteers helping to clear the remains of a portion of the house Wednesday.
Mike Cochrane, who owns Servicemaster in Owen Sound is a long-time friend of Barb and Andy McCaffrey.
He says about 20 people, including Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound MP Alex Ruff and former local MP Larry Miller volunteered to help clear the destroyed back portion of the McCaffrey's house on 8th Avenue East. Cochrane says some volunteers are expected Thursday too.
At about 3 in the afternoon on July 8th, emergency services were called to the home after neighbours reported seeing smoke. After only a few minutes, the entire back of the home was engulfed in flames.
Police say a quick acting neighbour realized the McCaffreys were not home and managed to open the front door and get their dog which was still inside.
The home, which was not insured at the time sustained heavy damage and a neighbouring house had damage to its siding because of the extreme heat and flames.
Cochrane says he received a call the day after the fire, and since fire restoration is his specialty, he was happy to volunteer his time and skills to help. The back of the home, with a kitchen and porch area ended up having to be demolished.
Cochrane says he called Roy-Mar Demolition's Adam Watson who donated his time and took down the back of the house.
“I thought after, well maybe I can get more folks to help us out, and put it back together through the community and try to keep expenses to a minimum” says Cochrane, who estimates fixing the smoke and fire damage throughout the house and putting the back addition and kitchen back on would cost about $125,000.
He says in his 17 years running his business, he has lots of contacts with businesses in the in building industry and trades people who have pledged to donate their supplies or their time to help the McCaffreys.
This isn't the first time Cochrane has donated his help. When the Dean Family's dog was killed by an intruder with an axe in their Owen Sound house in May 2019, Servicemaster offered to do the cleanup.
Meanwhile, a GoFundMe started by another friend has raised $12,691 of a $20,000 goal as of Thursday July 23rd.
On Saturday, August 1st, from 7p.m. to 11 p.m. Jazzmyn's Restaurant in downtown Owen Sound is holding a benefit for the McCaffreys.
Cochrane says any skilled trades people who would like to help, can contact Servicemaster in Owen Sound.