The Fire

Some of you may have heard the news - ICYA had a fire. Here's a news links if you're interested:

http://www.cjob.com/news/local/Story.aspx?ID=1006199

The fire was contained in the old section of our building, where the woodshop is. Damages are yet to be determined, and estimates range from $50,000 if it's just surface damage to $250,000 if it's structural.

Here's some praise items:

- no one was hurt
- on a night where the building usually has up to 75 people in it, all but 10 were on a field trip and were unaffected.
- in a portion of the building not used on Wednesdays, a volunteer "happened" to detour through the woodshop and noticed the smoke in time to call the fire department.
- the fire was stopped before it spread to the new section of the building where 90% of our programs take place. The chopper club, the only program to be affected, can move to the garage (inconvenient, but doable) until repairs can be made.
- we only lost 2 program days (due to air quality)
- we had just recently been inspected (and passed) by fire inspectors - much of the area had been cleaned up to help prevent spreading of fires less than two months prior.
- neighbours were fantastic - literally coming to our aid with pots and pans full of water - while waiting for the fire department to arrive.

Prayer items:
- although we are insured, damages are costly and inconvenient. Pray that we will have the time, manpower, and resources to clean up the job
- Chopper Club gets busier in summer - as does our need for the garage. It would be ideal if their space could be usable by the end of June.