N.S. native community mourns death of handyman in fire
Last Updated: Monday, June 29, 2009 | 4:15 PM AT
CBC News
The fatal fire has left several tenants homeless. (CBC)A man who died in a weekend apartment fire in northern Nova Scotia is being remembered as a helpful and well-liked handyman.
The fire broke out around 6 p.m. Saturday on the Paq'tnkek First Nation, near Antigonish.
Band Chief Michael Gerard Julian identified the victim as John Wayne Paul, a handyman who lived alone.
Mary Johnson, a resident of the community, knew Paul. She said he will be missed.
"He was always playing with the kids and teasing him," said Johnson. "He did a lot of lawn work for the elders. He helped the elders a lot."
The six-unit apartment building was also home to three other men and two families.
There was extensive smoke and water damage throughout the structure, RCMP Cpl. Rene Bouchard said.
"Probably three [units] are totally destroyed and the other three are not livable," he said. "Everyone has moved out at this time."
The Red Cross offered to help find accommodations for the evacuees. But all of the tenants have found temporary places to stay with relatives, Julian said.
Insurance adjusters and contractors are assessing the damage, the band chief said. He said he hopes to rebuild as soon as possible because the First Nations community already faces a housing shortage.
"It's very significant because we have a very high need for housing and then you have, of course, six homes lost. It's a very trying situation," Julian said.
The investigation into the cause of the fire continues.
