Josh Watson and his two children were at a Christmas supper with family just a kilometre up the road when he got a call that his chemin Wesley home was on fire.

“I rushed over and when I got there it was already engulfed in flames,” Watson said.

Shawville-Clarendon fire chief Lee Laframboise said his department was called to the residence around 4 p.m. that day, and that the home appeared to have been burning for a couple of hours by the time he got there.

“The whole thing was on fire. We couldn’t save a thing.”

He said the firefighters were at the home four or five hours before they were able to extinguish the flames.

Watson believes a space heater he was using to prevent his pipes from freezing in the basement may have been the cause of the fire, but is not sure.

He said while he is relieved that neither he nor his children were in the house at the time of the fire, he is devastated to have lost his dog Crypto, who he described as his “best friend in the whole world.”

He and his kids are staying with family until he can figure out next steps.

“The home was not insured. So it was a complete loss for both me and the kids,” Watson said. “I’m still in shock and overwhelmed with it all.”

Holly Lalonde, a longtime friend of Watson’s, put a callout on Facebook on Dec. 28 asking the community for support for Watson and his children.

Within 24 hours the family had received most of what was needed to get through this difficult period, including everything from bunk beds and bedding to winter clothes and hockey equipment, as well as financial donations.

“The community came together very quick following my post and they received all kinds of donated items,” Lalonde said. “No one should ever have to go through what they have gone through.”

Watson said he is grateful for the support from the community.

“The community has been so great and supportive, it’s been humbling because I try to keep to myself. I’m so thankful for everyone.”

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