'It's just heartbreaking': Amherst, N.S. devastated after family of six killed in fire
Residents of Amherst, N.S. are grieving after a family of six was killed in a trailer fire on Sunday evening.
Residents said the loss of the family of two adults and four children is unimaginable.
"To think of a family completely taken by a fire, four small children, it's just heartbreaking," said David Kogon, Amherst mayor.
The family members who died in the camper trailer were identified on Monday as 30-year-old RJ Sears, 28-year-old Michelle Robertson, three-year-old Colin 'CJ', four-year-old Jaxson, eight-year-old Robert 'Ryder' and 11-year-old Madison.
According to a Facebook post by the Town of Amherst and Cumberland North MLA Elizabeth Smith-McCrossin, a memorial has been setup in Victoria Square where people can go to pay their respects to the victims.
"It really hits hard," said Kogon. "Things are bad enough when its adults but when its children, it's a tenfold increase in the sadness and the devastation. Not something anyone wants to deal with."
Smith-McCrossin said the news is devastating in a town that is very closely knit.
"You're either related or friends with one another and any time there's a loss of a child, in this community we've just lost four children, it hits home," said Smith-McCrossin.
Three of the four children lost attended school at Cumberland North Academy in Amherst.
The Chignecto-Central Regional Centre for Education confirmed the information in a post on Twitter on Tuesday.
In the Twitter post, the organization says, "Right now, our priority is to support our students and staff members of Cumberland North Academy where these sudden losses will leave a lasting impact on those who knew them."
School psychologists, as well as the student services consultant and school counsellor, will be at the school to provide any support needed.
"You have a whole school of children that have just lost friends," said Smith McCrossin. "You have teachers impacted, you have coworkers impacted."
Both Kogon and Smith-McCrossin say their hearts also go out to the first responders involved.
"This is really the worst case scenario that any of them (first responders) could ever experience in their job," said Smith McCrossin. "Life changing. Life changing for them."
Despite the heartbreak, Kogon says his community will step up to support one another through the difficult time.
"There will be great support as best that can be provided and that's emotional support, and I'm sure there will be financial support," said Kogon. "This community will really pull together in times like this. I'm very proud to say."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
BREAKING McGill University seeks emergency injunction to remove pro-Palestinian encampment from campus
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
U.S. says Israel's use of U.S. arms likely violated international law, but evidence is incomplete
The Biden administration said Friday that Israel's use of U.S.-provided weapons in Gaza likely violated international humanitarian law but wartime conditions prevented U.S. officials from determining that for certain in specific airstrikes.
'State or state-sponsored actor' believed to be behind B.C. government hacks
The head of British Columbia’s civil service has revealed that a “state or state-sponsored actor” is behind multiple cyber-security incidents against provincial government networks.
Mother assaulted by stranger while breastfeeding baby in her car: Vancouver police
A person was arrested in East Vancouver Thursday after allegedly entering a car while a mother was breastfeeding her four-month-old boy.
Rare severe solar storm Friday could bring spectacular aurora light show across Canada
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
More than half the Canadians once detained in Syrian camps for suspected ISIS family members have returned home
A total of 29 Canadians have been freed from detention camps in northeast Syria and brought back to Canada since human rights advocates began lobbying for their release years ago.
Canada abstains from Palestinian UN membership vote but supports two-state solution
Canada was one of 25 countries that abstained from a United Nations vote on Palestinian membership that passed with overwhelming support on Friday.