A house fire is every family’s worst nightmare, where seconds matter, and years of memories can vanish in an instant. For the Holben family of Poplar Point, that nightmare became reality in the early morning hours of May 21st.
A frightening morning
Samantha Holben, daughter of Arny and Claire Holben, remembers the terrifying start to the day that would change her parents' lives. Around 4 a.m., Claire awoke to strange sounds and assumed she had left a tap running.
“She opened her bedroom door and was almost knocked down by the smoke,” notes Holben.
Claire immediately woke Arny, then rushed next door to alert Samantha. After calling 911, Samantha ran to her parents' home, unsure if her father had made it out safely.
“I didn't know where he was, so I was yelling, of course,” she adds. “He finally came out, and I told him we had to get out because the fire department was coming.”
Arny escaped the fire but suffered injuries in the chaos and was hospitalized for over a week. Samantha describes the experience as emotionally overwhelming.
“It was a nightmare for us. It took a while for us to see the extent of the damage because we couldn't bear to go inside,” she continues.
Damage and uncertainty
The fire, which has been identified as electrical, began in the basement, directly beneath the couple’s bedroom. Claire’s quick action may well have saved both of their lives.
“We only know that it was an electrical fire. We don’t know how it started, because we haven’t received the report yet,” she explains.
A structural engineer has since assessed the home. While the frame remains intact, nearly everything else, from mechanical systems to fixtures, will need to be replaced.
“The structure is good. We just have to worry about cleaning and replacing. We can tell it's going to need rewiring, new plumbing, a hot water tank, a furnace, and the upstairs washroom has to be gutted. It's hard to believe how it can damage every single thing, but it did,” she says.
The Holbens are relieved their home can be rebuilt, but the financial cost is steep, and made heavier by the fact that they had no home insurance.
Long history in Poplar Point
Arny and Claire have been married for 45 years, and have lived in Poplar Point for 35. The house has deep roots: it originally belonged to Arny’s mother, who purchased it in 1979, and the couple took ownership in 1990.
The Holbens are widely known as the kind of neighbours who never hesitate to lend a hand, whether it's Arny ploughing snow with his tractor or the couple volunteering at the local community centre. Their kindness over the years is now being repaid by the people they’ve quietly supported.
“Danielle, the president of Poplar Point MB Community Centre, insisted that they start the donations. Asking for money is not easy, and we know everybody is struggling. We appreciate any donation, big or small,” she continues.
The community has launched a GoFundMe campaign to help cover the cost of repairs and recovery. Additionally, a Holben Fundraiser Windup BBQ will be held on Saturday, July 26th, a chance for neighbours to come together in support, solidarity, and hope.
The Holbens face a long road ahead, but thanks to their deep community ties and decades of quiet generosity, they won't be walking it alone.