Beloved pet dies in house fire at Aleza Lake

With nothing but her purse clutched in her hands and the clothes on her back, Elva Noakes watched as her home at Aleza Lake burned so hot on Boxing Day there was only the tin from the roof left.

"To watch something like that really turns you inside out," said Noakes.

Unfortunately, Noakes was looking after her neighbour's Shih Tzu, Meghan, at the time of the fire.

"That's the worst loss," said Noakes. "You know you can lose stuff and replace it but you can't replace her. She was such a little sweetheart."

Noakes has lived at Aleza Lake east of Prince George in a trailer with an addition on it since 1990.

She'd been having trouble with the electrical wiring for a while so twice she had electricians in to take a look.

Neighbours told her that while she was in town for dinner with her family when the blaze started, two power outages had occurred.

Noakes thinks something went wrong with the wiring or heaters she had strategically placed by the water cistern in the back of her home and under the trailer to keep the water pipes from freezing.

"I don't think we'll ever know what really happened," said Noakes, whose outbuildings, including a small library she set up in a little cabin, were unaffected by the fire.

As many people know, living in a remote area carries a heavy price for insurance, which Noakes said was not affordable for her.

"It was quite a shock to come home to see the house burning but of course the first thing I thought of was the dog," said Noakes.

"I'd be quite fine with it. I'd manage and I'd get on but I was really quite attached to Meghan, too. That's the real big loss - when there's any life lost. You can always replace stuff."

Pat Scully is the neighbour who lost his dog and he has been wonderful to Noakes, she said. Noakes is staying with him right now and he has offered her the use of a cabin he has on his property.

Noakes said she will winter in the little cabin and see what can be done in the spring.

"It's amazing how good people are when something like this happens," said Noakes. "They're very good out here. My neighbours will help in any way they can and I have an excellent family. I'm pretty lucky that way."

Noakes's sister Irene has arranged for donation boxes to be placed at the Eastway Esso on Highway 16 East and Mr. G. at Highway 16 and Boundary Road.

Noakes lost everything in the fire so any donations are most welcome.

For more information call Irene at 250-963-9491.