Community rallying to help couple rebuild uninsured fire-damaged house

The goal for contractors, donors and volunteers is to make sure Andy McCaffrey and his wife Barb return to their Owen Sound home, hopefully by Christmas, and with enough money left over for presents.

The couple’s home was heavily damaged in a fire earlier this month while the pair were at the hospital tending to an unrelated injury Barb had previously suffered. Their dog was at a neighbour’s house. No one was injured in the blaze, but the couple had let their home insurance lapse and were going to be out of pocket for the repairs.

Michael Cochrane, owner and operator of Service Master Restore Grey-Bruce, went to take a look at the damage and told McCaffrey that even without rebuilding the garage and deck attached to the back of the original house repairs were going to run between $75,000 and $100,000.

Cochrane said during a telephone interview Sunday that McCaffrey told him he had his trust, and to do what needs to be done. The couple would figure out the financing, and perhaps take out a mortgage on their 8th Ave. E home.

When Cochrane started making calls to contractors, they began to offer their services for free. From demolition to roofing, dry-wallers, plumbers, and electricians, people started volunteering to pitch in and help the McCaffrey family.

Cochrane, who has known the couple since he was five-years-old, said he thought to himself “I bet I can help these folks out”.

Only July 16, Cochrane put a call out on his business’ Facebook page asking for volunteers to help remove damaged building materials on July 22 and 23. The post was shared over 400 times, and seen by over 20,000 people. The response was so great, the next day he asked volunteers to RSVP so the effort wouldn’t contravene any COVID-19 safety measures restricting gatherings of over 50 people inside, and 100 people outdoors.

One neighbour offered to purchase pizza and drinks for the volunteers.

A GoFundMe campaign started by a neighbour has reached over $12,000 of its $20,000 goal.

The restoration will be a big undertaking. Cochrane, who has operated the business for 17 years, said the extensive smoke damage is going to require a strip-it-to-the-studs approach.

“We’ve got to start fresh. There is too much smoke damage,” he said. “I won’t put a band-aid on something that needs major surgery. The best way is to gut it to the studs, smoke-seal it for odour, do a layout plan, get a building permit and drawings … and put it back together.”

He said he plans to engage with the connections he’s made over those 17 years in business and hopes others will help cover some of the costs as the project moves forward.

“I’m hopeful they’re not going to have to pocket anything … and I’ve never asked anyone for anything in 17 years. This is probably the first time. And nobody has to, nobody has to donate or volunteer anything … but like I said, Owen Sound, Grey-Bruce, it’s just a great community. Everyone is always pulling together,” Cochrane said.

Approximately 30 firefighters from the Owen Sound and Inter Township departments responded to the house fire when a call came in on July 9 just after 3 p.m.

The cause of the fire is undetermined, and not suspicious according to Owen Sound Fire Chief Doug Barfoot.