After the ashes cooled
Feature photo:
“When we left, I remember looking back and we never thought our house would be burned,” said Evelyn Scholtzen.
“It was the most beautiful house around here. It was a white wood house with blue trim,” she said, pointing to where her front door used to be, which was a bend in the foundation and the only solid remnant left of the house.
“It was right out of Better Homes and Gardens, ” she said.
As Evelyn described how her house used to look, she pointed to an oven that rested where the unfinished basement once was.
“Well, we can have baked potatoes,” she said proving at least the fire didn’t destroy her sense of humor.
Shuswap Sun, August 13, 1998
Photo credit:
James Murray, Salmon Arm Observer, c. 1998
After the ashes had cooled, residents of Branchflower and Johnson Roads were allowed back to see their homes. For many, nothing was left.
The neighbourhood was plagued by lookie-loos after the smoke cleared. Fundraiser Fimmy Ganshorn challenged people who went sightseeing on Branchflower Road to donate to the Fire Relief Fund.
Steve Heiser and Evelyn Scholzen survey what is left of their Branchflower Road home.
Undeterred, the couple chose to stay and rebuild.