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When a blaze tore through their Cremona home in late August, the Oostlander family didn’t know where they’d be four months down the line as Christmas approached.
Now, thanks to a plan hatched by friend and Cochrane-based developer Tim Davidson, the family will be able to celebrate the holidays in the comfort of their own — and brand new — home.
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Davidson’s Timko Developments is leading the charge for a 72-hour building blitz that will restore the Oostlanders’ fire-razed house back to its former glory and then some. Workers, equipment and materials were at the home on the southern edge of Cremona — 80 kilometres northwest of Calgary — by Friday at 6 p.m. By the same time Monday, they expect to be standing in front of a fully finished home.
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More than two dozen volunteers of various trades have donated their time and hard work to the weekend-long build and hundreds more are contributing to the endeavour with food and other supports to help see it past the finish line. Calgary’s Renovation Room is also participating in the project.
“I just felt in my spirit that we’re living in crazy days and I just wanted to make the most impact I could,” said Davidson. “I’m just a carpenter. This just really brought the community together — beyond what I thought would happen.”
The Oostlanders’ home, located just off Highway 22, went up in flames on the morning of Aug. 29. All residents were able to safely evacuate, though one person was treated for minor burns and smoke inhalation, according to Cremona emergency officials.
Four months later, Mark and Kendall Oostlander and their two sons are preparing to move into their new home by Monday evening, just a week ahead of Christmas.
While the rebuild is covered by insurance, Davidson said donations are pouring in from the community. He hopes donations can be used to set up a relief fund of sorts to support similar projects in the future.
“I know there are people already suffering from disasters, so we’re hoping to be able to help them out,” he said.
mrodriguez@postmedia.com
X: @MichaelRdrguez
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