This retired B.C. couple escaped hearth twice in 2025

A retired couple in Grand Forks, B.C., is rebuilding from ashes but once more — after escaping hearth and dropping all of their belongings not as soon as, however twice, in 2025. 

Ritchie and Rene Day have been having fun with a quiet night of their unit at Johnny’s Motel in Grand Forks  — situated about 340 km southeast of Vancouver — after they heard banging on their unit’s door on the night of Dec. 21. 

“We simply could not consider it,” mentioned Ritchie Day from her son’s home. “One other hearth.”

The hearth at Johnny’s Motel displaced the Days for the second time this 12 months, together with the short-term and long-term residents from 4 different models.

They’d simply moved into the motel 4 months in the past to reset and navigate insurance coverage after dropping their dream house to a fireplace in late September. 

Their house had been diminished to ash simply days after finishing a decade’s price of initiatives, renovations and landscaping on the residence, situated prominently on a fundamental road in Grand Forks. 

Ritchie remembers how she had simply settled into mattress on the night time of the home hearth on Sept. 30, when Rene began yelling and got here working into the room. He had heard a loud noise from outdoors and located the deck fully engulfed in fast-spreading flames.

“The smoke was simply so overwhelming you could not even catch just a little breath,” mentioned Ritchie.

Ritchie mentioned they didn’t have time to seize something as the home full of smoke and hearth. With nothing however the garments on their backs and Rene’s cellphone, they narrowly escaped and watched their home burn from the road. 

“No glasses, no listening to aids, no CPAp machine, nothing,” mentioned Ritchie. 

Most painful was the lack of the Days’ 4 pet birds, who died within the hearth. 

“I’d have performed something to save lots of them, however we simply could not do it. We had no likelihood. We barely acquired out.”

She mentioned neighbours instantly got here out to wrap them in blankets, give them a spot to take a seat and a shoulder to lean on as they watched their home burn.

Ritchie mentioned she and Rene have been despatched to hospital in a single day to be handled for smoke inhalation and monitoring whereas hearth crews extinguished the blaze. 

The reason for the fireplace stays a thriller to the Days.

“We have been advised the fireplace was a results of spontaneous combustion. I do not know from the place, I do not know why,” mentioned Ritchie.

They went from the hospital to a buddy’s home to recuperate and exchange important gadgets like their glasses. 

Ritchie mentioned the neighborhood in Grand Forks instantly got here to their support. 

“The generosity was overwhelming, actually. It is an incredible place to be.”

Folks began a fundraiser, companies donated gadgets, and other people helped out in any approach they may. 

After staying with their buddy for a couple of days, the Days moved into Johnny’s Motel, which she says they completely cherished.

They deliberate to name the unit house for the following 12 months as they navigated insurance coverage claims. 

That every one went up in smoke on the night of Dec. 21.

‘Simply devastating’

Hearth Chief Morgan Strohmann with the Grand Forks Hearth Division mentioned a visitor’s automobile full of Christmas presents had ignited within the motel’s parking storage, shortly spreading to the constructing’s roof. 

He mentioned the reason for the automobile hearth is undetermined. 

“It was simply devastating. It is such a pleasant little spot. The individuals are so pretty, they usually have been so good to us,” mentioned Ritchie. 

Half of the motel remains to be operational, confirmed Strohmann, however 5 models have been deemed unsafe attributable to in depth harm.

The Days spent Christmas at their son’s home and are presently ready to maneuver into one of many intact models at Johnny’s.

“I imply, there’s sure issues you don’t have any management over, so there’s hardly any level in getting too upset. And we’re not ready to be depressed,” mentioned Ritchie, decided to rebuild in 2026.