'We were panicking': P.E.I. family loses home to fire

Melissa and Scott Handrahangot the the call every person dreads over the holidays the home theirfamily had lived in forthe past seven yearswas on fire.

The fire happened inTignish, near the western tip of P.E.I.

"We were panicking," Melissasaid. "Our house was destroyed completely by the fire."

"It was like being in a nightmare. It was like I was in a war zone."

The Handrahans were visiting family for dinner when the phone rang.

It was my dream home and I have everything in there. Melissa Handrahan

Melissa, a stay-at-home mom to herthree-year-old boy,decided to move from Ontario to the Island after visiting her cottage in the very community where her home used to be.

"It was my dream home and I have everything in there," she said.

"It all went up in flames."

Shawn Ahern, deputy chief of the Tignish fire department, said the call came in on Dec. 29 around 6:30 p.m.

"We just put out what was left," he said.

Ahern said the home is too badly burnedto determine the cause .

Grateful for community

Melissa said she is grateful for her community, which has rallied around her family.

"Islanders are the best people on this planet," she said, her voice shaking with emotion.

"They've come with bagloads of clothes for my family because we didn't have any. They've come with food, they've opened their homes and their heartand they've prayed with me."

The Handrahans have been staying with family members. The Red Cross is also providing assistance.

The home was insured, Melissa said, and they plan to rebuild, but two vehicles parked near the house that were also completely burned were not insured for fire.

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