A man who fled the devastating wildfire in Fort McMurray, Alta. arrived back home in Nova Scotia to find his house had burned to the ground.
Bruce MacDonald was on his way home to Cape Horn, N.S. from Alberta on Friday when he learned his house had caught fire and burned down.
鈥淓verything was gone,鈥� MacDonald鈥檚 brother, Norm MacDonald, told CTV Atlantic.
鈥淟iterally the only thing they had left was the clothes that they had on their backs. There was nothing left. Literally nothing left.鈥�
Bruce MacDonald鈥檚 20-year-old son, who was home alone at the time, woke to the smell of smoke. He was able to escape safely, but the house was lost.
The family is staying with friends while they sort out their next steps. It鈥檚 unclear what caused the fire.
An has since been launched to support the family. More than $12,000 has been raised in a few days.
鈥淓very few minutes there was more and more money. That鈥檚 not including what was coming in in email money transfers. We just couldn鈥檛 believe the outpouring of support,鈥� said Norm鈥檚 wife, Cindy, who helped form the fundraiser.
The family declined to be interviewed, but said they are overwhelmed by the generosity they鈥檝e received.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e really blown away. They really weren鈥檛 expecting it,鈥� said Cindy MacDonald.
The support is well-deserved, according to Bruce鈥檚 brother.
鈥淭hey鈥檇 give their shirts off their back to help people in general, so it鈥檚 nice to see that in return,鈥� Norm MacDonald said.
With a report from CTV Atlantic
