St. John's family of 7 rebuilding their lives after losing home and belongings in fire

Khalid Yahya stands next to the house where he used to live with his wife and five children, until a fire last week destroyed most of the family's belongings. (Mark Cumby/CBC)

A family of seven in St. John's who lost their home to a fire are staying in a Newfoundland and Labrador Housing unit for now.

For Khalid Yahya, his wife and five children — who range in age from 13 to two — the two-bedroom unit in an apartment building is a bit cramped, but it'll do for now.

Last Friday, the family was in the home they have been living for the past two years on Pennywell Road. It was a regular night — some children were asleep, others were watching TV — when a fire broke out in one of the rooms

In just a few minutes, the family escaped, without injury, but could only watch as the house, and everything they own — including coats, shoes, passports, MCP cards and valuables they carried from Sudan to their new lives in Canada —burned.

"We lost everything," Yahya told CBC News on Thursday. He said his family has been offered a temporary home until a larger house can be found.

John Shepperd, a project manager in Allied Construction Management and Yahya’s employer, has created a GoFundMe campaign to raise money for the family. (Mark Cumby/CBC)

Over $15K raised

John Shepperd, a friend of the family and Yahya's employer at Allied Construction Management, created a GoFundMe campaign to raise money for the family the morning after the fire.

"All the crew got together: 'What can we do to help? Can we get clothes? Can we get toys?'" Shepperd said.

"I looked around my house and I thought, 'Can you imagine if we lost all this?'"

The campaign has raised more than $15,000 of its $20,000 goal.

Yahya said he's grateful for all the support.

"Thank you so much for everyone [that helped] my family. I am so happy."

And while they wait to move to a permanent home, Yahya says they're using the time to rebuild their lives.

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