Garage fire puts Steinbach family in limbo

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This article was published 30/11/2015 (3495 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

William Pangman paid his rent earlier today for the home on Reimer Avenue they would celebrate Christmas from. Now, he doesn’t know where his family will spend the holiday.

Smoke billowed from the Steinbach home Pangman rented, at the intersection with Third Street, late Monday afternoon after their garage caught fire. Pangman speculates the pickup truck inside somehow started the blaze.

“I don’t know what I’m going to do. This is the absolute worst thing that can happen to a person,” said Pangman, who said he is grateful his family, all inside their house, was not hurt.

“You read about it in the newspaper or you see it in the news. Now, it’s me, me and my family.”

By the early evening Monday, Pangman could only stand and watch as firefighters tried to contain the smoke that seeped into the southern end of his house. Their garage, though its walls somewhat intact, is a loss. The north wall of a neighbouring home on Third Avenue sustained minimal damage.

His wife Becky and four children will spend the night at the city’s Days Inn hotel.

Pangman was often at a loss of words when speaking. He said his family does not have insurance for damaged contents.

“I don’t know what happens tomorrow,” he said. “The kids are supposed to go to school tomorrow. How are they supposed to go to school when all their school bags are inside there? They’re probably now drenched in water. All of our clothes—everything, everything is in there.”

Pangman’s wife, Becky, has difficulty walking because of her multiple sclerosis diagnosis. Her husband had to carry her to the front door.

“Her wheelchair, her walker, everything is inside that garage,” said William.

The fire commissioner is on site to investigate what caused the blaze, which started around 4:30 p.m.

Pangman said his first order of business is to ensure his family is safe. He’ll figure out what happens next from there.

“You don’t think that something like this is going to happen to you but it does,” he said. “Christmas is coming, and it doesn’t look like it’s going to be much of a Christmas for us.”